When employers face soaring health care costs, how can they optimize digital health in their benefits design?
With healthcare costs for companies expected to grow 9% through 2026, the largest increase in more than a decade, ROI from digital health solutions is critical. In a recent webinar, executives from Solera Health and Premera Blue Cross discussed how they are addressing the ROI challenges of digital health adoption and self-insured employer benefit design. Solera Health Chief Strategy Officer Ed Liebowitz and Premera Health Vice President of Products Nathan Johnson exchanged views in a lively discussion moderated by MedCity News Editor-in-Chief Arundhati Parmar.
Sponsored by Solera Health, this webinar provides advice on how to improve patient engagement by selecting the right interventions that resonate with patients and improve outcomes. AI tools have the potential to support a more personalized approach.
Liebowitz attributes the shortcomings in patient engagement to the insufficient number of primary care physicians (PCPs) directing patient visits. But he noted that digital health can now better address employer healthcare challenges.
“We are now at an inflection point in the market, and employers [say] “We really hope our health plans can help us figure this out because they understand the benefit structure better than we do.” And whether virtualization plans are in the works to lower out-of-pocket costs [appointments] Firstly, finding the right experts, personalized navigation based on the new LLM model that exists, I think technology has now reached a point where it can go back to personalized navigation and fill the void where there is a lack of PCP. “
Johnson gave an example of how Premera, through its partnership with Kinwell Medical Group, is helping employers reduce health care costs amid a physician shortage.
“We have 16 clinics that offer a very concierge-style advanced primary care experience, and their return on cost of care is as high as 10 percent-plus compared to other clinics in the network,” Johnson said. “So the model of care is important, the level of engagement is important and creating space and time for primary care work is important.”
Audience gains include:
• Have a clear understanding of what to look for in a digital health vendor
• Gain insights into how to quantify ROI and leadership results
• Practical steps to simplify supplier management and improve employee engagement
• Actionable strategies to prepare for 2026 benefit planning
To access the recording of the webinar, Next-generation advantage: new tools to control costs, integrated digital networksplease fill out the form below.
photo: Yuichiro Kino, Getty Images
