SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 28, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leavitt Partners today announced the formation of Health Intelligence Partners™, a member-based, health care executive collaboration. The collaboration brings together industry leaders and policy experts to participate in tailor-made health care intelligence activities that give members an informed perspective on the likely future of health care. Skillfully executed national surveys, strategic tabletop exercises, briefings and summits provide a setting for insightful dialogue and productive partnerships. Members—which include leading hospital systems, insurance companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, medical device companies, long-term care service providers, technology vendors and other enterprises serving the health care sector—benefit from reduced uncertainty and expanded clarity about the future of the health care marketplace.
"Health care executives share the common opportunity and pain of an industry undergoing tumultuous change," said Leavitt Partners President and CEO, Rich McKeown. "We've designed Health Intelligence Partners as a forum for C-suite executives from leading companies to leverage ideas, share intelligence, challenge assumptions and, in the end, improve their value propositions. We welcome leading health care companies to join us."
Health Intelligence Partners (HIP) is led by seasoned health care policy experts David Merritt and Kelly Crowe.
David Merritt, a senior advisor at Leavitt Partners, is a nationally recognized expert in health policy, sought-after speaker, author and policy advisor. Merritt edited Paper Kills, an award-winning book about the promise and challenge of implementing health information technology.
Kelly Crowe, a vice president at Leavitt Partners, is a former vice president at the Center for Health Transformation. Prior to this, Crowe worked with the Advisory Board Company to help leading hospitals and health systems apply best practices and improve financial performance. She is a 13-year veteran, highly-ranked equity analyst covering the health care industry.
"Health care executives face significant uncertainty as new regulations, mergers, innovations and technological advancements continually change the industry," said Merritt. "Health Intelligence Partners provides a collaborative and thought-provoking setting for senior executives to compare ideas, share intelligence and build helpful relationships to navigate a complicated and challenging health care future."
In addition to interaction with David Merritt and Kelly Crowe, members of the Health Intelligence Partners collaboration receive intelligence briefings led by principals at Leavitt Partners, including former Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary, Michael O. Leavitt. Members also have access to FuturePanel™, an authoritative group of health care thought leaders. FuturePanel members include the following:
Michael O. Leavitt—Leavitt Partners Chairman, former secretary of HHS
Joel Ario—former director of the Office of Insurance Exchanges, HHS, and Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner
Robin Arnold-Williams—former executive policy director, Washington State Governor's Office
Thomas Barker—former acting general counsel for HHS
Dr. David Blumenthal—former national coordinator for health information technology and current professor of medicine and health care policy at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School
Charlene Frizzera—former acting administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Dr. James Madara—executive vice president and chief executive officer of the American Medical Association
Karen Milgate—former deputy director of the Center for Strategic Planning at CMS
Dr. John Nelson—past-president of the American Medical Association and Leavitt Partners chief medical officer
Ray Scheppach—former executive director of the National Governors Association
Dr. Barry Straube—former chief medical officer for CMS
Vince Ventimiglia—former assistant secretary for legislation, HHS
Ronald Williams—former chairman and CEO of Aetna Inc.
Susan Winckler—former chief of staff for the Food and Drug Administration
Together, Governor Leavitt, FuturePanel and Leavitt Partners principals offer HIP members the industry's best intelligence on today's leading issues, including questions about the health reform law, changes to provider reimbursement, Medicaid and state actions, drug development and innovation, and future trends in health information technology.
The Health Intelligence Partners suite of offerings includes the following:
Tabletop Exercises—Strategic simulations designed to answer critical uncertainties facing health care executives. Over the next six months these tabletop exercises will cover pertinent topics in health care such as the transition from fee-for-service reimbursements, the upcoming Supreme Court decision, state and federal insurance exchanges, Medicaid transformation, scientific innovation, the future of health information technology and health care policy scenarios based on potential election results.
C-Suite Dialogues—Monthly intelligence briefings that include a member of FuturePanel.
Reports—Surveillance on critical issues like ACOs and care coordination, health insurance exchanges, Medicaid, value-based payment systems and other drivers of health care industry change.
Intelligence Briefings—Guidance from Leavitt Partners Chairman, Michael O. Leavitt, and other principals regarding macro trends in health care.
Intelligence Surveys—Survey data on the most important trends and issues in health care.
Collaboration with Health Care Executives—Networking opportunities with other industry-leading executives.
"We have the right people, the right topics and the right approach to move from uncertainty towards clarity," said Kelly Crowe. "HIP members will develop a better understanding about the likely direction of America's health system in order to make informed strategic decisions."
Enterprises interested in learning more about Health Intelligence Partners should contact Leavitt Partners at HIP@LeavittPartners.com or call (801) 538-5082.
About Leavitt Partners
Leavitt Partners is a health care intelligence business. Through its member-based collaboration called Health Intelligence Partners™ and direct services to clients, the firm provides the best available window to the future of health care. By conferring with an authoritative group of health care thought leaders known as FuturePanel™ and applying the FutureFrame™ qualitative predictive model, Leavitt Partners helps clients clearly see the future of American health care. For more information visit LeavittPartners.com or call (801) 538-5082.