GREENVILLE, S.C. – Healthcare and business leaders from across the Southeast took part in the third WellSpent Southeast meeting on July 20, 2021.
WellSpent-Southeast was created as a way to educate, influence and persuade key stakeholders on the importance of healthcare as a key driver of the economy. WellSpent is a project of the Employer Provider Interface Council (EPIC), a group dedicated to bringing employers and providers together to facilitate change in the marketplace toward more value and less waste.
“We strive to establish clear lines of communication across business, economic development and healthcare throughout the Southeast,” said Dr. Randy Vogenberg, board chairman of Employer Provider Interface Council (EPIC) and Co-Chair of the WellSpent program, “We also want to improve or increase opportunities for business and community of each Southeastern state.”
WellSpent’s third virtual meeting was held on July 20th and included leaders from Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina. Key speakers for the July 20th event included Ray Farmer, Insurance Commissioner for the State of South Carolina and Past National Chair for the National Association of State Insurance Commissioners; Dr. Kenny Cole, System VP of Clinical Improvement for Ochsner Health in Louisiana; and Dr. Stephen Farrow the Executive Director of The National Diabetes & Obesity Research Institute on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. These speakers shared their views on the future of health insurance, value-based care models, and updates on economic development and healthcare projects on the Gulf Coast.
WellSpent Southeast will realize success by developing public-private partnerships to advance change in the marketplace between employer, providers, plans, and economic development organizations. When this happens, a shared vision, values, and measures can be created to help reduce waste and improve the value of investments at all levels, says Murray Harber, Co-Chair of the WellSpent Program and Founding Board Member, Employer Provider Interface Council.