Introduction
The X PRIZE Foundation, a nonprofit organization that drives innovation through large incentivecompetitions, has partnered with theWellPoint FoundationandWellPoint, Inc.to develop a $10M+
Healthcare X PRIZE to revolutionize the US healthcare system. This document contains an initialdesign for a prize to improve the health of Americans; we are sharing our initial thinking to solicitpublic feedback andengage you in the conversationto help us create the best prize possible. This initial prize design was released to the public on April 14, 2009 for a 45 day period of publiccomment. Your comments and input will be used to test and refine our objectives and design.We will continue to engage the public and experts throughout the world to help us further explorein depth areas critical to the prize development effort. By June, we should have a final prize designthat will move into a planning phase in anticipation of a launch by the end of 2009.
The Grand Challenge
The proposed Healthcare X PRIZE goal is to create an Optimal Health paradigm that engages and empowers individuals and communities in a way that will dramatically improve health value.
Health care is a complex system that touches each of us and consumes 17% of America’s GDP($2.4 Trillion in 2007). In identifying the Grand Challenge, we interviewed over 50 experts in thehealth sector about the various challenges a prize might solve. A number of common themesemerged:
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We have a sick care system rather than a health system
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Financial incentives are based on volume/ procedures instead of outcomes
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Our system is fragmented with a lack of coordination or agreement on best practices
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The focus is on short-term disease management vs. long-term focus on improving thehealth of individuals and communities
The consumer does not have the tools to engage in health even if they have the desire. As we explored the ways a team mightaddress these issues in the existing system, it becameclear that our health system doesn’t function like a system at all. In fact, there are no central goalsthat orient the different providers across the system into a cohesive unit, nor are there incentivesthat focus them on working together to achieve these desired outcomes. We are setting thatgoal. We believe the health system should help all of us attain optimal health. As we asked our experts what an optimal health system should look like, we heard:
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Eliminate acute/ rescue care through proactive approaches
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Include clear information that highlights best performers regardless of their approach
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Recommend effective solutions that work for consumers and drives impact
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Share your thoughts on the initial prize design for the proposed Healthcare X PRIZE at
www.xprize.com/wellpoint
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