Community Powered-Care: A New Model for Sustainable Health Plans - 2026 NextGen Healthcare Summit Recording Series

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, industry leaders from Hancock Health and Conner Insurance explore a bold, community-driven healthcare model that aligns employers, providers, and patients around better outcomes and lower costs. Moving beyond the broken, fragmented system, this conversation dives into total cost of care, direct-to-employer partnerships, and how local innovation can transform entire populations. From wellness infrastructure to direct primary care and data-driven engagement, this episode offers a blueprint for building a more sustainable and effective healthcare ecosystem.Main Talking PointsThe core concept: aligning employers and local health systems to create better outcomes and lower costsWhy traditional healthcare fails: fragmentation, misaligned incentives, and lack of coordinationThe key shift from “price problem” → “total cost of care problem”Hancock County’s transformation: from low health rankings to top 4% nationallyThe “Infrastructure of Well-Being” model: integrating fitness, primary care, diagnostics, and educationDirect-to-employer and direct-to-consumer healthcare models removing insurance frictionWhy engagement—not access—is the true currency of healthcareThe role of direct primary care in driving early, proactive interventionHow vertically integrated systems can control risk and improve outcomesThe importance of local care delivery vs. consolidation of large health systemsWhy hospitals must innovate—or face consolidation or closureThe role of data, EMR integration, and analytics in managing population healthThe power of community health needs assessments in shaping strategyReal-world example: GLP-1 programs paired with lifestyle interventions for sustainable outcomeEmployer perspective: shifting from passive buyers to active partners in healthcare deliveryFinancial insight: removing insurance complexity drastically lowers actual cost of careThe importance of creativity and willingness to challenge the status quoPractical strategy: “land and expand”—start with one cost driver and scale