PHOENIX, Ariz. (Nov. 18, 2022) — Vālenz® Health is pleased to announce that Stefani Voorhees, SHRM-SCP, has joined the leadership team as Senior Vice President, People.
Having served in leadership positions in human resources since 2015, Voorhees brings extensive experience in developing organizational strategy, building and implementing people-focused programs, overseeing performance management, compensation and benefits strategy, compliance, and employee engagement. She also has a strong background in recruitment and talent acquisition.
“Stefani considers human resources to be the nucleus of the business and the catalyst to driving an exceptional employee experience and highly effective talent strategy. That makes her an excellent fit for the Valenz Health culture,” said Rob Gelb, Chief Executive Officer. “Stefani will play a lead role in supporting our growth strategy and optimizing our talent to help us continue to thrive through future acquisitions and expansion. She is a terrific addition to the Valenz team.”
Most recently, Voorhees served as Head of Human Resources for Companion Protect. She also held leadership roles in human resources and talent management for BranchPattern, PeopleAdmin and Modis after working in client management and financial advisory services. She received her bachelor’s degree in human resource management.
“I’m thrilled to become part of an innovative company that places a high priority on relationships, alignment, communication and employee engagement,” Voorhees said. “People are every company’s greatest asset, and you can’t separate the people decisions from the business decisions. As I strive to foster a ‘love where you work’ mentality, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to support, develop and engage with all the great talent at Valenz.”
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 claim reimbursement and payment validity, integrity and accuracy, as well as 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.
https://www.valenzhealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Valenz_Stefani-Voorhees-Annc_600x432-3.jpg432600Maris Panjadahttps://www.valenzhealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/valenz-logo-1-23-3.pngMaris Panjada2022-11-18 23:33:102022-11-21 14:44:02Stefani Voorhees Joins Vālenz® Health as Senior Vice President, People
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many patients paused their doctor visits or let their medications lapse, leading to health issues going unchecked for months or years. The resulting increase in late-stage diagnoses for serious conditions like cancer and heart disease means patient acuity is higher and treatment is more extensive – all key contributors to the ongoing escalation of healthcare costs. And we are all beginning to see the impact of inflation on the healthcare system.
To battle this growing crisis, self-insured employers can advocate for members by deploying medical cost-containment solutions to connect them to necessary quality care while also minimizing expenses for both the member and the employer.
I believe members will benefit from engagement early and often throughout the patient journey, receiving proactive support from navigators who make them aware of all their care options and provide guidance to the right resources that meet not only their health needs, but their financial needs as well.
Case in point: Of the more than 100 million Americans living at or below 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (e.g., a family of four with a household income of $106,000 or less), many might not realize they may qualify for low- or no-cost medical care. Most likely, their employer and health plan sponsor are unaware of this opportunity as well. Although about 60 percent of U.S. hospitals receive billions in tax breaks to offer charity care, the lack of promotion of this option – and the resulting low consumer awareness – has become a significant national issue.
As part of the federal requirements of Section 501(r), members who do qualify for low- or no-cost care may receive medical treatment at one of more than 4,000 facilities across the country with fiduciary responsibilities to offer charity care. For members who are above 400 percent FPL, they may be eligible for more than 1,000 pre-negotiated care bundles or other high-quality in-network care.
The impact of healthcare’s rising costs – and the lack of transparency for patients – has become unsustainable. The key to a solution is the creation and adoption of tools that support navigators in collecting members’ financial and demographic information at the onset of navigation and providing education, support and guidance about their care options – a true model of member/patient advocacy. We need to simplify the healthcare journey for members, making it easy for them to receive the best possible care at the lowest cost while staying in network.
To address this need, Vālenz® Health created Care Value Optimizer (CVO) as a unique enhancement to its NaVcare solution for member navigation and advocacy. Leveraging the power of the Valenz Healthcare Ecosystem Optimization Platform to engage data and empower better decision-making, CVO advocates for members by triaging them to charity care, Centers of Excellence care bundles, or high-performance network offerings based on their finances, location, benefits and health profile.
Because every member is different and their needs may change over time, Valenz navigators and nurses conduct ongoing engagement to gain a comprehensive, data-supported view of members’ current needs. Navigators provide insight to the right care options depending on members’ income, health needs and ability to travel for care; and in alignment with the Valenz “Yes, And” culture, navigators also support patients with scheduling, paperwork and other requirements before they see a provider.
CVO enables effective management of the most expensive and complex treatments and procedures, benefiting the member with lower costs, better access to high-quality care, and improved health outcomes. While the member receives advocacy, employers become more empowered to balance quality, utilization and cost of care, reducing claim expense and the overall plan spend. Ultimately, CVO drives smarter, better, faster healthcare for everyone involved.
The “new normal” of a post-pandemic world has had a serious impact on the lives of many members who may find themselves deciding between putting food on the table and getting the healthcare they need. With CVO, the NaVcare Enhanced solution, and all options within the Valenz Healthcare Ecosystem Optimization Platform, self-insured employers and those who support them and their plans can take a significant step toward ensuring members won’t have to face that choice.
About Rob Gelb
Rob Gelb is Chief Executive Officer of Vālenz® Health, which 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 claim reimbursement and payment validity, integrity and accuracy, as well as 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.
About Vālenz® Health
Valenz 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 claim reimbursement and payment validity, integrity and accuracy, as well as 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.
https://www.valenzhealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Rob-CVO-Article-600x432-2.jpg432600Maris Panjadahttps://www.valenzhealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/valenz-logo-1-23-3.pngMaris Panjada2022-11-01 15:56:552022-11-03 15:58:14As healthcare costs reach unsustainable levels, care navigators and members need better tools to guide the right care options
PHOENIX, Ariz. (Oct. 28, 2022) — Self-insured employers looking for cost containment strategies should be open to solutions that prioritize the member first– a shift in thinking that can have a big payoff for both the member and the employer, according to Vālenz® Health CEO Rob Gelb.
As part of a recent HCAA-sponsored “Voices of Self-Funding” podcast with host Ramesh Kumar and Imagine360 CEO Jeff Bak, Gelb addressed key trends in driving lower costs and managing risk for self-funded plans, including the roles played by enhanced transparency, data and technology.
“It starts with the employer being willing to get comfortable being uncomfortable, accepting that they may not have all the answers, and making changes in the spirit of the member to do what’s right,” Gelb said. “More than just cutting the cost of an individual claim, the conversation has to evolve around the total cost of care and placing the member first in the equation while you measure quality of care, reasonable cost and reasonable reimbursement.”
An important first step, Gelb said, is to establish transparency from the start among the provider, payer, plan and member – aligning all parties in achieving a balance of cost, quality and utilization of care.
“There’s a misalignment of incentives with the way that traditional plans design their networks, and an expectation from employers that any provider network that has broad coverage is good for their employees,” Gelb said. “When you have full alignment upfront, all parties understand throughout the process what their role is in balancing the equation of quality, advocacy and cost. That’s how we arrive at cost containment options that benefit everyone involved in the claim.”
“We’ve designed a solution as a platform that becomes a full BUCAH replacement option,” Gelb said, referring to the Valenz Healthcare Ecosystem Optimization Platform. “Economics are a big part of that. We use local and national data sets to feed UCR, paid claim data, other forms of data, and Medicare into an algorithm to determine what we call market sensitive repricing. In addition to determining what services and the price point for those services, we determine what shouldn’t even be on the claim. Then, we typically get provider signoff 50 percent of the time on all of those factors to eliminate any friction. That’s part of our methodology to contain costs and serve the member.”
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 claim reimbursement and payment validity, integrity and accuracy, as well as 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.
https://www.valenzhealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Valenz_Rob-NY-2022-LI-Pulse-600x432-v3.jpg432600Maris Panjadahttps://www.valenzhealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/valenz-logo-1-23-3.pngMaris Panjada2022-10-28 20:25:562022-10-28 21:00:05Vālenz® Health CEO Shares Member-Centric Strategies to Drive Improved Cost Containment and Risk Mitigation
Stefani Voorhees Joins Vālenz® Health as Senior Vice President, People
/in Announcements, Featured, Press/by Maris PanjadaPHOENIX, Ariz. (Nov. 18, 2022) — Vālenz® Health is pleased to announce that Stefani Voorhees, SHRM-SCP, has joined the leadership team as Senior Vice President, People.
Having served in leadership positions in human resources since 2015, Voorhees brings extensive experience in developing organizational strategy, building and implementing people-focused programs, overseeing performance management, compensation and benefits strategy, compliance, and employee engagement. She also has a strong background in recruitment and talent acquisition.
“Stefani considers human resources to be the nucleus of the business and the catalyst to driving an exceptional employee experience and highly effective talent strategy. That makes her an excellent fit for the Valenz Health culture,” said Rob Gelb, Chief Executive Officer. “Stefani will play a lead role in supporting our growth strategy and optimizing our talent to help us continue to thrive through future acquisitions and expansion. She is a terrific addition to the Valenz team.”
Most recently, Voorhees served as Head of Human Resources for Companion Protect. She also held leadership roles in human resources and talent management for BranchPattern, PeopleAdmin and Modis after working in client management and financial advisory services. She received her bachelor’s degree in human resource management.
“I’m thrilled to become part of an innovative company that places a high priority on relationships, alignment, communication and employee engagement,” Voorhees said. “People are every company’s greatest asset, and you can’t separate the people decisions from the business decisions. As I strive to foster a ‘love where you work’ mentality, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to support, develop and engage with all the great talent at Valenz.”
For more information about the Valenz executive team, visit valenzhealth.com/about/leadership.
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 claim reimbursement and payment validity, integrity and accuracy, as well as 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.
As healthcare costs reach unsustainable levels, care navigators and members need better tools to guide the right care options
/in Announcements, Featured, Press/by Maris PanjadaFrom Rob Gelb, Vālenz® Health CEO
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many patients paused their doctor visits or let their medications lapse, leading to health issues going unchecked for months or years. The resulting increase in late-stage diagnoses for serious conditions like cancer and heart disease means patient acuity is higher and treatment is more extensive – all key contributors to the ongoing escalation of healthcare costs. And we are all beginning to see the impact of inflation on the healthcare system.
To battle this growing crisis, self-insured employers can advocate for members by deploying medical cost-containment solutions to connect them to necessary quality care while also minimizing expenses for both the member and the employer.
I believe members will benefit from engagement early and often throughout the patient journey, receiving proactive support from navigators who make them aware of all their care options and provide guidance to the right resources that meet not only their health needs, but their financial needs as well.
Case in point: Of the more than 100 million Americans living at or below 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (e.g., a family of four with a household income of $106,000 or less), many might not realize they may qualify for low- or no-cost medical care. Most likely, their employer and health plan sponsor are unaware of this opportunity as well. Although about 60 percent of U.S. hospitals receive billions in tax breaks to offer charity care, the lack of promotion of this option – and the resulting low consumer awareness – has become a significant national issue.
As part of the federal requirements of Section 501(r), members who do qualify for low- or no-cost care may receive medical treatment at one of more than 4,000 facilities across the country with fiduciary responsibilities to offer charity care. For members who are above 400 percent FPL, they may be eligible for more than 1,000 pre-negotiated care bundles or other high-quality in-network care.
The impact of healthcare’s rising costs – and the lack of transparency for patients – has become unsustainable. The key to a solution is the creation and adoption of tools that support navigators in collecting members’ financial and demographic information at the onset of navigation and providing education, support and guidance about their care options – a true model of member/patient advocacy. We need to simplify the healthcare journey for members, making it easy for them to receive the best possible care at the lowest cost while staying in network.
To address this need, Vālenz® Health created Care Value Optimizer (CVO) as a unique enhancement to its NaVcare solution for member navigation and advocacy. Leveraging the power of the Valenz Healthcare Ecosystem Optimization Platform to engage data and empower better decision-making, CVO advocates for members by triaging them to charity care, Centers of Excellence care bundles, or high-performance network offerings based on their finances, location, benefits and health profile.
Because every member is different and their needs may change over time, Valenz navigators and nurses conduct ongoing engagement to gain a comprehensive, data-supported view of members’ current needs. Navigators provide insight to the right care options depending on members’ income, health needs and ability to travel for care; and in alignment with the Valenz “Yes, And” culture, navigators also support patients with scheduling, paperwork and other requirements before they see a provider.
CVO enables effective management of the most expensive and complex treatments and procedures, benefiting the member with lower costs, better access to high-quality care, and improved health outcomes. While the member receives advocacy, employers become more empowered to balance quality, utilization and cost of care, reducing claim expense and the overall plan spend. Ultimately, CVO drives smarter, better, faster healthcare for everyone involved.
The “new normal” of a post-pandemic world has had a serious impact on the lives of many members who may find themselves deciding between putting food on the table and getting the healthcare they need. With CVO, the NaVcare Enhanced solution, and all options within the Valenz Healthcare Ecosystem Optimization Platform, self-insured employers and those who support them and their plans can take a significant step toward ensuring members won’t have to face that choice.
About Rob Gelb
Rob Gelb is Chief Executive Officer of Vālenz® Health, which 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 claim reimbursement and payment validity, integrity and accuracy, as well as 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.
About Vālenz® Health
Valenz 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 claim reimbursement and payment validity, integrity and accuracy, as well as 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.
Vālenz® Health CEO Shares Member-Centric Strategies to Drive Improved Cost Containment and Risk Mitigation
/in Announcements, Featured, Misc./by Maris PanjadaPHOENIX, Ariz. (Oct. 28, 2022) — Self-insured employers looking for cost containment strategies should be open to solutions that prioritize the member first– a shift in thinking that can have a big payoff for both the member and the employer, according to Vālenz® Health CEO Rob Gelb.
As part of a recent HCAA-sponsored “Voices of Self-Funding” podcast with host Ramesh Kumar and Imagine360 CEO Jeff Bak, Gelb addressed key trends in driving lower costs and managing risk for self-funded plans, including the roles played by enhanced transparency, data and technology.
“It starts with the employer being willing to get comfortable being uncomfortable, accepting that they may not have all the answers, and making changes in the spirit of the member to do what’s right,” Gelb said. “More than just cutting the cost of an individual claim, the conversation has to evolve around the total cost of care and placing the member first in the equation while you measure quality of care, reasonable cost and reasonable reimbursement.”
An important first step, Gelb said, is to establish transparency from the start among the provider, payer, plan and member – aligning all parties in achieving a balance of cost, quality and utilization of care.
“There’s a misalignment of incentives with the way that traditional plans design their networks, and an expectation from employers that any provider network that has broad coverage is good for their employees,” Gelb said. “When you have full alignment upfront, all parties understand throughout the process what their role is in balancing the equation of quality, advocacy and cost. That’s how we arrive at cost containment options that benefit everyone involved in the claim.”
“We’ve designed a solution as a platform that becomes a full BUCAH replacement option,” Gelb said, referring to the Valenz Healthcare Ecosystem Optimization Platform. “Economics are a big part of that. We use local and national data sets to feed UCR, paid claim data, other forms of data, and Medicare into an algorithm to determine what we call market sensitive repricing. In addition to determining what services and the price point for those services, we determine what shouldn’t even be on the claim. Then, we typically get provider signoff 50 percent of the time on all of those factors to eliminate any friction. That’s part of our methodology to contain costs and serve the member.”
Hear more from Rob in the full podcast.
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 claim reimbursement and payment validity, integrity and accuracy, as well as 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.