By: Nic Hayes
Last week, some of our team attended the ASCEND Agency Growth and Leadership Summit hosted by NextGen Benefits in Atlanta. This four-day conference brought together some of the industry’s leading thinkers, innovators, and disruptors to collaborate and continue to drive the industry forward. Over the course of the conference, we had the privilege of listening to some of the industry’s brightest stars, learning about the numerous innovative solutions being offered, and being able to network with brokers and vendors from across the country.
However, our experience at ASCEND was uniquely different than that of the other attendees. As many of you likely don’t know, the articles you read and newsletters you receive come from me, Nic Hayes – a Gen Zer with less than a year of experience in this industry. In addition to me, my co-worker and friend Peyton Brien is also a big part of the things we do here at the Granite List, and just like me he’s in the "under 30" crowd too. So for us, attending ASCEND was a crash-course in the current healthcare industry: What’s wrong with the current state of healthcare in the US? – What innovative solutions are being brought to the marketplace? – In what direction is the industry headed?
Because so much of the industry’s old guard is, well... a little older, we thought it would be a good idea to share with you what we learned from this past week and what we see as the impact for the new generation entering the workforce.
Industry Notes from Nic
For me, one of the biggest takeaways from ASCEND was being able to meet representatives from many of the solutions showcased on The Granite List and seeing how appreciative they were of the work that we have been doing. One such instance that stood out to me was having dinner with John Quinn, CEO of Wellnecity. Over the course of dinner, we talked about his appearance on our podcast, The Granite List Live and how I was the one who edited it and published it among other things. He was so thankful for that our team has provided a microphone for a solution like his, a platform that allows data to be proactively and meaningfully used to impact and improve lives.
Personally, a lot of the work I do on a daily basis doesn’t get into the fine details of healthcare and employee benefits, so I came into this conference with less knowledge of the industry as a whole compared to the bulk of attendees. However, in listening to the speakers and having small conversations over the ‘course of events provided me new insights into how impactful our work in healthcare is to employees across the country.
The most impactful thing I learned from this conference though took place over dinner on the final night of the conference. Through a conversation I had with Carson Steward, an Account Executive for Brightline, I was able to see how the work we’re doing is actually revolutionary in the sense of improving the lives of employees through healthcare. A lot of the current problems with healthcare are a result of the current system in which higher premiums mean higher pay for carriers or brokers – or more visits to a doctor means higher pay for the system, regardless of the health outcomes that come for the employees they serve. This conversation showed me that the problems in the current healthcare system stem from a profit grab, instead of the focus being on improving the health of those being served. With this in mind, solutions such as direct contracting where doctors are paid based on outcomes instead of the number of times they see a patient really stuck with me as a way to truly impact the lives of hard-working employees around the country.
A Word from Peyton
Attending the ASCEND conference in Atlanta was an extremely rewarding experience for myself as a young professional in the healthcare and employee benefits arena. From meeting existing clients to forging new relationships, I found the conference to be both informative as well as an opportunity to gather rich perspective on where I, and the Connect Healthcare Collaboration team who created The Granite List, fit into the employee benefits arena. The ability to develop a better understanding of how my personal work affects employees’ lives that I have never met was very rewarding--in that I was able to see how my work improves the daily livelihood and outcomes of employees across the United States.
One of these conversations was with Kathy Kwasniak, VP of Operations at Brightline Dealer Advisors. Over the last couple of months, I have had the opportunity to play a role in creating multiple benefits communications for Brightline’s clients across the US. From learning the intricacies of different employee benefits to cultivating client relationships, my conversations with Kathy over the week gave me insight that the work we do, as minor as it may seem, plays a crucial role in protecting the paychecks and health outcomes of employees and their families. In addition, these encounters and the realization of the broader impact of this work has been pivotal in shaping my understanding of the responsibilities and rewards that come with being part of the employee benefits arena. I look forward to using my newfound perspective in my future endeavors with CHC while continuing to strive to make a positive difference in the lives of employees across the US.
As Nic and I progress in our careers, our experience at ASCEND has enriched our understanding of the employee benefits space and the work that we do daily. Furthermore, following our time in Atlanta, our experience has also engendered serious thought on our complex healthcare system—questions mentioned above such as “What innovative solutions are being brought to the marketplace?” and “In what direction is the industry headed?” were questions consistently on our mind—as many potential solutions, and the minds behind them, were present at ASCEND. We’re extremely grateful for the opportunity to participate at the conference while deepening our own understanding of the field—all while trying to solve difficult questions such as the ones posited above.
And now, a challenge to our readers.
Whether you find yourself just launching a career in this field or you’re a veteran who has established a large number of plan members under your care, we are grateful for the collaboration you bring as part of our community at The Granite List. If this last week taught us anything, it’s that the industry is ripe for change and there is much room to make that change. One small step might be as simple as identifying your favorite, most innovative solution on The Granite List and writing a review for them. If you don’t shine light on the ideas, solutions and platforms that can make a difference, who will?