Celebrating top innovators

Health care innovation is not just about implementing new technologies and solutions; it’s about transforming the overall landscape to improve the lives of consumers. Modern Healthcare, a leading source of health care business and policy news, research and information, hosts the annual Top Innovators program, which recognizes industry leaders for their novel approaches and impressive real-world outcomes that are driving the sector forward. This is the inaugural year that the Top Innovators program has awarded esteemed organizations, like Banner|Aetna, in addition to individuals.

Banner|Aetna delivers health care innovation for members

Since launching in 2017 as a 50/50 joint venture between leading care delivery organization Banner Health and Aetna, a CVS Health Company, Banner|Aetna has been transforming health care in a variety of meaningful ways. For example, the company has implemented and scaled initiatives that focus on addressing chronic diseases.

Banner|Aetna also stands out as a Top Innovator for its groundbreaking programs that demonstrate real results for members, like the Multi-Disciplinary Care Team program that keeps decision-making power in the hands of clinicians. In addition, the insurer’s Kitchen Program provides a cooking show-style approach to nutritional education for members with metabolic diseases. Along these lines, the company is pushing for condition-specific health care innovation through programs like its virtual Type 2 diabetes reversal solution, which boasts an average of 1.4% reduction in A1C blood sugar levels, decreasing the risk of long-term diabetes complications to 40%. Members in this program ultimately experienced a 50% drop in their diabetes medication usage, with 40% eliminating insulin entirely.

Health care innovation and access go hand in hand

Beyond these quality- and outcomes-focused initiatives, Banner|Aetna has also improved access to care by offering plans via the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. Since entering the exchange in 2022, exponential membership growth has inspired even more momentum. Health care innovation is foundational to the insurer’s mission to bring enhanced benefits to individuals and families across the state more easily and more affordably.

A complete list of Modern Healthcare’s Top Innovators is featured in the magazine and online at ModernHealthcare.com/Top-Innovators.

2917120-01-01 (12/23)