US Chamber of Commerce Health Summit Prioritizes Role of Value-Based Care

WASHINGTON — Attendees at the 9th Annual Health Summit held by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce focused on the role of putting the consumer at the center when it comes to the business of health care.

“At this point it’s a public and private partnership with the health care system we’ve created … [and] there is a real need to change the incentive structure for how we pay for care,” said Sean Robbins, who serves as executive vice president of external affairs at Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, during the summit. 

“We have to increasingly move the system to value-based arrangements,” continued Robbins. 

The summit blended together key leaders from the private and public sector — with speakers including business leaders, policymakers, investors, developers and workforce leaders to examine innovations that are providing consumers with greater access to value-based care, while controlling overall costs across the care continuum.

Discussions during the summit ranged from how employers can drive the health care system to greater value, to the impact of chronic disease management on employers and primary care.

“Any good health care system has to be consumer-centric,” said Dan Mendelson, who serves as the CEO of Morgan Health at JPMorgan Chase & Co., during the summit. 

Not all employers at the summit felt they had the capacity to provide a range of benefits which might improve the health of employees. 

“We are not able to have any benefit design that is not in so many strict parameters, it’s impeding affordability and impeding care,” said Susan Ellender, vice president and principal in client relations at Associated Benefits Consulting, during the summit. 

“All parties need to come to the table open minded and not politically charged to say how we can help move the needle,” said Ellender.

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