PHOENIX, Ariz. (April 14, 2023) — Certus Management Group (CMG), a Vālenz® Health Affinity Company, details the role of enhanced transparency in helping self-insured health plans deliver member care with greater cost savings and improved health outcomes in its recently released white paper, “Transparency and Fiduciary Responsibility.”
The Transparency in Coverage rule and No Surprises Act, which took effect in 2022, aim to protect consumers from surprise medical bills by requiring providers and plans to make certain information publicly available so consumers realize total costs of care from the start of the healthcare journey.
While many members still struggle to understand costs before services are rendered, health plans are committed to making full transparency possible, according to Steve Butz, Senior Vice President of Business Development for CMG. In fact, the plan’s fiduciary responsibility is to act in the best financial interest of whom it serves. Because a self-funded plan must pay only reasonable plan expenses, transparency in healthcare illuminates the data and financial information plans need to effectively evaluate all claims received.
“Transparency is essential to everything a health plan does – expanding networks, selecting high-quality and low-cost providers, navigating members across the healthcare journey, and the appropriate payment of claims,” Butz said. “With as many as 80 percent of hospital bills containing errors, it is critical for the plan sponsor to mitigate these errors and understand how its fiduciary responsibility prohibits the reimbursement of claims resulting from errors or abusive charges. That’s how we arrive at the right decisions for lowering overall medical costs, improving health outcomes, and driving better member experiences.”
CMG, a managing general underwriter providing certainty of stop loss protection to self-funded employee benefit plans, was acquired by Valenz Health in 2022 and is part of the Valenz Healthcare Ecosystem Optimization Platform, a fully integrated suite of solutions that simplifies the complexities of self-insurance through data transparency and decision enablement throughout the life of a claim.
Read the full white paper here.
About Vālenz® Health
Vālenz® Health simplifies the complexities of self-insurance for employers through a steadfast commitment to data transparency and decision enablement powered by its Healthcare Ecosystem Optimization Platform. Offering a strong foundation with deep roots in clinical and member advocacy, alongside decades of expertise in the validation, integrity and accuracy of claims, and a suite of risk affinity solutions, Valenz optimizes healthcare for the provider, payer, plan and member. By leveraging data transparency and delivering an omnichannel approach across the healthcare journey, Valenz improves cost, quality and outcomes for employers and their members – engaging early and often for smarter, better, faster healthcare.
Vālenz® Health CEO Will Join High-Profile Panel at SIIA Corporate Growth Forum
/in Announcements, Events, Featured, Press/by Maris PanjadaPHOENIX, Ariz. (May 5, 2023) — The SIIA Corporate Growth Forum, a key educational and networking event for companies in the self-insurance and captive insurance marketplace, will feature a panel of high-profile industry leaders including Robert Gelb, Chief Executive Officer of Vālenz® Health.
Participants in the session, “Real World Financial Transaction Stories from SIIA Members,” will share pathways to success as well as lessons learned from their own corporate transactions. Panel members joining Gelb include moderator Amanda Eisel, CEO of Zelis; and Bill Ashley, Executive Vice President of Allied National; Jeff Bakke, CEO of Health EZ; and Ben Frisch, CEO of Point C.
“The SIIA Corporate Growth Forum is a must-attend event for any industry executive looking to take their business to the next level,” Gelb said. “We expect a lively session with valuable insights into what went right, what went wrong – what we like to call ‘spilled milk’ – and what we wish we’d known prior to our transactions. We’re also looking forward to many great discussions throughout the Forum about the latest trends and strategies in corporate growth.”
Scheduled for May 15-17 at the Westin Poinsett in Greenville, S.C., the SIIA Corporate Growth Forum is designed to provide a deeper understanding of growth strategies through corporate financial transactions, while also facilitating direct engagement with select equity groups. The event program emphasizes industry topics specific to entrepreneurs and strategic planning executives who are interested in exploring private equity options and developing relationships to further their business objectives.
Also representing Valenz, a SIIA Diamond Member, will be Nathan Nelson, Chief Revenue Officer. Attendees are encouraged to connect with Valenz about the industry’s only Healthcare Ecosystem Optimization Platform, offering a suite of integrated and data-driven solutions that flatten the trajectory of health plan costs while helping the self-insurance industry thrive.
About Vālenz® Health
Vālenz® Health simplifies the complexities of self-insurance for employers through a steadfast commitment to data transparency and decision enablement powered by its Healthcare Ecosystem Optimization Platform. Offering a strong foundation with deep roots in clinical and member advocacy, alongside decades of expertise in the validation, integrity and accuracy of claims, and a suite of risk affinity solutions, Valenz optimizes healthcare for the provider, payer, plan and member. By leveraging data transparency and delivering an omnichannel approach across the healthcare journey, Valenz improves cost, quality and outcomes for employers and their members – engaging early and often for smarter, better, faster healthcare. More information is available at valenzhealth.com.
Vālenz® Health Attains New Security Certification, Ensuring Highest Protection of Customer Data
/in Announcements, Featured, Press/by Maris PanjadaPHOENIX, Ariz. (April 21, 2023) — In its commitment to protecting highly sensitive information for customers and partners, Vālenz® Health has attained SOC 2 Type 2 audit certification, which significantly minimizes risk of data breaches and other costly vulnerabilities.
SOC 2 Type 2 reports are the most comprehensive certification within the SOC protocol. To obtain certification, Valenz underwent a rigorous, long-term audit from an independent third-party auditor licensed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The audit examines the design of internal controls and the operating effectiveness of data security systems to verify adherence to these high standards.
“In our increasingly data-driven world, cybersecurity is among the top concerns for every company. It is essential that we provide the highest level of data protection for our customers, and they deserve transparency into how we achieve that for true peace of mind,” said Rob Gelb, Chief Executive Officer of Valenz. “Our attainment of SOC 2 Type 2 certification aligns with the Valenz culture of trust and demonstrates our ability to keep customer data private, safe and secure.”
About Vālenz® Health
Vālenz® Health simplifies the complexities of self-insurance for employers through a steadfast commitment to data transparency and decision enablement powered by its Healthcare Ecosystem Optimization Platform. Offering a strong foundation with deep roots in clinical and member advocacy, alongside decades of expertise in the validation, integrity and accuracy of claims, and a suite of risk affinity solutions, Valenz optimizes healthcare for the provider, payer, plan and member. By leveraging data transparency and delivering an omnichannel approach across the healthcare journey, Valenz improves cost, quality and outcomes for employers and their members – engaging early and often for smarter, better, faster healthcare.
Certus Management Group White Paper Champions Transparency as Foundational to Fiduciary Responsibility for Self-Insured Health Plans
/in Announcements, Featured, Press/by Maris PanjadaPHOENIX, Ariz. (April 14, 2023) — Certus Management Group (CMG), a Vālenz® Health Affinity Company, details the role of enhanced transparency in helping self-insured health plans deliver member care with greater cost savings and improved health outcomes in its recently released white paper, “Transparency and Fiduciary Responsibility.”
The Transparency in Coverage rule and No Surprises Act, which took effect in 2022, aim to protect consumers from surprise medical bills by requiring providers and plans to make certain information publicly available so consumers realize total costs of care from the start of the healthcare journey.
While many members still struggle to understand costs before services are rendered, health plans are committed to making full transparency possible, according to Steve Butz, Senior Vice President of Business Development for CMG. In fact, the plan’s fiduciary responsibility is to act in the best financial interest of whom it serves. Because a self-funded plan must pay only reasonable plan expenses, transparency in healthcare illuminates the data and financial information plans need to effectively evaluate all claims received.
“Transparency is essential to everything a health plan does – expanding networks, selecting high-quality and low-cost providers, navigating members across the healthcare journey, and the appropriate payment of claims,” Butz said. “With as many as 80 percent of hospital bills containing errors, it is critical for the plan sponsor to mitigate these errors and understand how its fiduciary responsibility prohibits the reimbursement of claims resulting from errors or abusive charges. That’s how we arrive at the right decisions for lowering overall medical costs, improving health outcomes, and driving better member experiences.”
CMG, a managing general underwriter providing certainty of stop loss protection to self-funded employee benefit plans, was acquired by Valenz Health in 2022 and is part of the Valenz Healthcare Ecosystem Optimization Platform, a fully integrated suite of solutions that simplifies the complexities of self-insurance through data transparency and decision enablement throughout the life of a claim.
Read the full white paper here.
About Vālenz® Health
Vālenz® Health simplifies the complexities of self-insurance for employers through a steadfast commitment to data transparency and decision enablement powered by its Healthcare Ecosystem Optimization Platform. Offering a strong foundation with deep roots in clinical and member advocacy, alongside decades of expertise in the validation, integrity and accuracy of claims, and a suite of risk affinity solutions, Valenz optimizes healthcare for the provider, payer, plan and member. By leveraging data transparency and delivering an omnichannel approach across the healthcare journey, Valenz improves cost, quality and outcomes for employers and their members – engaging early and often for smarter, better, faster healthcare.
Vālenz® Health Attends SIIA Future Leaders Forum
/in Announcements, Events, Featured, Press/by kamryn cainPHOENIX, Ariz. (April 7, 2023) — The Vālenz® Health team will arrive in Indianapolis next week to take part in the SIIA Future Leaders Forum, a key networking and educational event designed for younger industry professionals.
A proud SIIA Diamond Member, Valenz is excited to be among many others in the self-insurance industry at the Future Leaders Forum, the only industry event dedicated to connecting the next generation of executives and thought leaders through topics that impact the self-insured marketplace of today and tomorrow.
“We love to see the self-insurance industry growing and thriving, and we are looking forward to being part of the SIIA Future Leaders Forum to spark new ideas that influence the future of self-insurance,” said Kaylee Davis, Client Services Executive, who will be part of the Valenz team attending the event.
Including a comprehensive program and several networking events catering to industry professionals age 40 and younger, the SIIA Future Leaders Forum is scheduled for April 11-12 at the Westin Indianapolis. Attendees are encouraged to connect with Valenz about its suite of data-driven solutions that flatten the trajectory of health plan costs, empowering the self-insurance industry to thrive.
About Vālenz® Health
Vālenz® Health simplifies the complexities of self-insurance for employers through a steadfast commitment to data transparency and decision enablement powered by its Healthcare Ecosystem Optimization Platform. Offering a strong foundation with deep roots in clinical and member advocacy, alongside decades of expertise in the validation, integrity and accuracy of claims, and a suite of risk affinity solutions, Valenz optimizes healthcare for the provider, payer, plan and member. By leveraging data transparency and delivering an omnichannel approach across the healthcare journey, Valenz improves cost, quality and outcomes for employers and their members – engaging early and often for smarter, better, faster healthcare.
Vālenz® Health Attends SIIA Spring Forum as a Sponsor
/in Announcements, Events, Featured, Press/by kamryn cainPHOENIX, Ariz. (March 28, 2023) — As a sponsor of the SIIA Spring Forum and long-time SIIA diamond member, Vālenz® Health is participating in the Orlando networking event this week, which is expected to be the largest gathering of senior-level self-insurance industry professionals for the first half of 2023.
The SIIA Spring Forum serves as a springboard for sharing ideas and solutions on the year’s most important topics in self-insurance – including how to address healthcare costs, quality, and transparency in a constantly changing environment, which is critical to the Valenz mission in driving smarter, better, faster healthcare.
“Because our Healthcare Ecosystem Optimization Platform uses data to lower costs and improve care at each step in the life of a claim, we’re excited about this year’s Spring Forum focus on how to assess and leverage healthcare quality,” said Rob Gelb, Chief Executive Officer at Valenz. “We look forward to engaging in some outstanding conversations on balancing quality, utilization and cost of care for the benefit of plan participants and sponsors, and their members.”
The SIIA Spring Forum will be held March 29-31 at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando. Attendees are encouraged to connect with Valenz about its suite of data-driven solutions that flatten the trajectory of health plan costs while helping the self-insurance industry thrive.
About Vālenz® Health
Vālenz® Health simplifies the complexities of self-insurance for employers through a steadfast commitment to data transparency and decision enablement powered by its Healthcare Ecosystem Optimization Platform. Offering a strong foundation with deep roots in clinical and member advocacy, alongside decades of expertise in the validation, integrity and accuracy of claims, and a suite of risk affinity solutions, Valenz optimizes healthcare for the provider, payer, plan and member. By leveraging data transparency and delivering an omnichannel approach across the healthcare journey, Valenz improves cost, quality and outcomes for employers and their members – engaging early and often for smarter, better, faster healthcare. More information is available at valenzhealth.com.
Giving Back to our Communities: Valenz Communities Connection Project
/in Announcements, Featured/by Jackie EbelVālenz® Health is excited to announce our new give back program, Valenz Communities Connection Project (VCC). Giving back, a selfless act for others, has long been known to inspire happiness and improve lives – for those who give, and those who receive. Our new Communities Connection Project is designed to do just that – build strong, vigorous and healthy lives. Our employees are excited to get involved in four ways: company sponsored events, company donations, local volunteerism, and Volunteer Time Off, or VTO.
Company Sponsored Events
All employees will have an opportunity to participate in various events that the company holds on a national basis. A calendar of events that includes various volunteer opportunities will be developed and shared throughout the company. Employees will then have a chance to volunteer with their co-workers in support of various national organizations, which must be 501c3 nonprofit organizations pre-approved by Valenz to ensure alignment with our values. A few examples of these organizations include Habitat for Humanity and Feeding America. These volunteer events will be planned by designated ambassadors around the country.
Local Volunteerism
Local volunteerism will consist of regional opportunities to enhance the collective ability of Valenz to get involved in various volunteer efforts. Each region will support its own predetermined 501c3, and will have an assigned ambassador that will help coordinate these events as well as the national company events. The eastern region’s ambassador will be Amy Gasbarro, the central region’s ambassador will be Jackie Ebel, and the western region’s ambassador will be Ernesto Robles.
Company Donations
Valenz is committed to promoting better health through our own financial contributions. Valenz will match donations of up to $100 per employee per year for those who wish to contribute to their own preferred 501c3 organizations. Valenz will also announce corporate donations to select 501c3 organizations, and there may often be certain company-sponsored events in conjunction with these donations. Organizations we currently support include Wheeler Mission, Alzheimer’s Association, Direct Relief, Meals on Wheels, and No Kid Hungry.
Volunteer Time Off
We encourage our employees to take time to volunteer with causes and events that create healthy communities. Each Valenz employee is able to use 16 paid hours a year for volunteer work, 4 hours each quarter. Employees can apply to use their VTO for a recognized company event, and each region’s ambassador will help approve these hours for their co-workers in collaboration with business unit managers.
About Vālenz® Health
Vālenz® Health simplifies the complexities of self-insurance for employers through a steadfast commitment to data transparency and decision enablement powered by its Healthcare Ecosystem Optimization Platform. Offering a strong foundation with deep roots in clinical and member advocacy, alongside decades of expertise in the validation, integrity and accuracy of claims, and a suite of risk affinity solutions, Valenz optimizes healthcare for the provider, payer, plan and member. By leveraging data transparency and delivering an omnichannel approach across the healthcare journey, Valenz improves cost, quality and outcomes for employers and their members – engaging early and often for smarter, better, faster healthcare.
Driving Healthcare Transformation: Key Topics and Takeaways for 2023
/in Featured, Press/by kamryn cainAs the healthcare environment continues to rapidly evolve, market forces are converging to create greater challenges in 2023: inflation, medical debt, staffing shortages, unsustainable financial losses, rising health premiums, and the ongoing impact of delayed care.
See how our collaboration with our iThrive Council of customer partners identified three key action items to drive transparency, solve for the issues of today, and lean into what’s next for our industry.
Click here to read the full report.
JP Thomas Joins Vālenz® Client Services Executive
/in Announcements, Featured, Press/by kamryn cainPHOENIX, Ariz. (Feb. 10, 2023) — Vālenz® Health is pleased to announce that JP Thomas has joined the team as Client Services Executive.
With 15 years in the healthcare and tech industries, Thomas brings extensive experience in project management and implementation. Under the leadership of Brian Campbell, Vice President of Client Services, Thomas’ responsibilities include day-to-day oversight of Valenz Care clients, facilitating data-driven medical cost management and population health management for labor and public entities.
“JP’s range of talents includes proven excellence in client service and relationship development, making her a great fit for delivering our promise of driving stronger, better, faster healthcare,” Campbell said. “Her solution-oriented, people-first philosophy enhances our team’s ability to proactively address our customers’ unique needs for cost-containment solutions and improved member outcomes.”
Most recently, Thomas led and directed strategic planning for clinical trial patient recruitment and retention at Verily Life Sciences in Chicago. In addition to numerous project management roles throughout her career, Thomas offers key experience with marketing/advertising initiatives and claim processing. She has a bachelor’s degree in organizational behavior from DePaul University.
“I’m thrilled to make a measurable impact on the lives of the people we serve, as we work to improve access to care and provide the guidance and support they need,” Thomas said. “I look forward to growing our client partnerships and fulfilling their trust in the Valenz team to keep them strong, vigorous and healthy.”
About Vālenz® Health
Vālenz® Health simplifies the complexities of self-insurance for employers through a steadfast commitment to data transparency and decision enablement powered by its Healthcare Ecosystem Optimization Platform. Offering a strong foundation with deep roots in clinical and member advocacy, alongside decades of expertise in the validation, integrity and accuracy of claims, and a suite of risk affinity solutions, Valenz optimizes healthcare for the provider, payer, plan and member. By leveraging data transparency and delivering an omnichannel approach across the healthcare journey, Valenz improves cost, quality and outcomes for employers and their members – engaging early and often for smarter, better, faster healthcare. More information is available at valenzhealth.com.
Vālenz® Health Will Serve as Corporate Sponsor of HCAA Executive Forum
/in Announcements, Featured, Press/by Tori KleinPHOENIX, Ariz. (Feb. 3, 2023) — As a corporate sponsor of the HCAA Executive Forum, Vālenz® Health leadership has announced plans to attend the key networking event for the self-funded industry in Las Vegas this year.
Valenz also will be featured in the B2B Marketplace, where attendees can learn the benefits of leveraging the unparalleled data transparency of the Healthcare Ecosystem Optimization Platform for better program decisions and significant savings through a suite of fully integrated solutions.
“This year’s event theme, Power of the Past-Force of the Future, is very fitting as we visualize innovative, data-driven solutions that simplify the complexities of self-insurance,” said Rob Gelb, Chief Executive Officer at Valenz. “In reimagining what a health plan should be, we engage with data early and often under our Claim Cost ArcSM to drive understanding of the plan, improve claim coordination and payment processes, and uncover opportunities for cost savings and a better member experience. The result is smarter, better, faster healthcare.”
The HCAA Executive Forum will be held Feb. 20-22 at the Bellagio. Attendees are encouraged to connect with Valenz about flattening the trajectory of health plan costs and aligning everyone involved in a claim. The onsite Valenz team will be at table 13. Learn more and schedule time to meet with Valenz: bit.ly/ValenzHCAAEF23
About Vālenz® Health
Vālenz® Health simplifies the complexities of self-insurance for employers through a steadfast commitment to data transparency and decision enablement powered by its Healthcare Ecosystem Optimization Platform. Offering a strong foundation with deep roots in clinical and member advocacy, alongside decades of expertise in the validation, integrity and accuracy of claims, and a suite of risk affinity solutions, Valenz optimizes healthcare for the provider, payer, plan and member. By leveraging data transparency and delivering an omnichannel approach across the healthcare journey, Valenz improves cost, quality and outcomes for employers and their members – engaging early and often for smarter, better, faster healthcare. More information is available at valenzhealth.com.
Vālenz® Health Promotes Kevin O’Donnell to Senior Vice President, Product & Marketing
/in Announcements, Featured, Press/by kamryn cainPHOENIX, Ariz. (Jan. 9, 2023) — Vālenz® Health is pleased to announce that Kevin O’Donnell, MPA, has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Product & Marketing.
In his new role, O’Donnell will lead Valenz marketing initiatives to fuel growth and visibility for the organization. He also will continue to work with Chief Product Officer Maurice Steenland in driving innovations and further advancing the Valenz Healthcare Ecosystem Optimization Platform suite of integrated, interactive solutions.
“Kevin has brought a tremendous vision and creative mindset to Valenz, and we are thrilled that his role is expanding,” Steenland said. “Through his ongoing leadership efforts, we look forward to developing new strategies and further underscoring our ability to change the trajectory of rising plan costs, enhance member experiences, and drive better health outcomes.”
O’Donnell, who lives in Newark, Del., joined Valenz in 2022 as Vice President, Enterprise Solutions. He has been highly involved in expanding and integrating how Valenz delivers solutions for providers and payers that assure the validation, integrity and accuracy of reimbursement and claims, as well as care and member advocacy program enhancements.
Previously, O’Donnell was Managing Director of Operations for Evolent Health and held other leadership positions there in operations, claims quality and payment integrity. He earned a master’s degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in health and human services from the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management.
About Vālenz® Health
Vālenz® Health simplifies the complexities of self-insurance for employers through a steadfast commitment to data transparency and decision enablement powered by its Healthcare Ecosystem Optimization Platform. Offering a strong foundation with deep roots in clinical and member advocacy, alongside decades of expertise in the validation, integrity and accuracy of claims, and a suite of risk affinity solutions, Valenz optimizes healthcare for the provider, payer, plan and member. By establishing “true transparency” and offering data-driven solutions that improve cost, quality and outcomes for employers and their members, Valenz engages early and often for smarter, better, faster healthcare. Valenz is backed by Great Point Partners. More information is available at valenzhealth.com.