The CED Life Science Conference 2013 will be a great opportunity for those of us in health care and in the life sciences to connect. I am privileged to play a role in this year’s conference as a co-chair with David P. King of LabCorp and Ed Mathers of NEA. We are each looking forward to many conversations about the challenges and opportunities we face as an industry. There are no shortages of either.

The Get Fit Challenge, sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC), is a 60-day program that provides 85 state businesses with customized fitness plans to encourage their workers to get fit, create healthy habits and help lower company health care costs.

“We believe that investing in these organizations will help us empower North Carolinians to improve their overall health,” said Kathy Higgins, president of the BCBSNC Foundation. “These physical activity equipment grants help organizations to achieve their goal of increasing regular physical activity for all North Carolinians.”

“Last year, we began working with SAS to develop deeper insights into the types of products and services healthcare consumers need. Now, our new Healthy Outcomes programs will enable us to provide the support consumers need to live healthier lives. Both of these efforts support our goal to help customers get and stay healthy. We know that when customers are healthier, health care can be more affordable, and everybody wins,” said Dr. Don Bradley, BCBSNC senior vice president and chief medical officer.

“Partnerships like this one are possible when hospitals, physicians and insurers commit to new ways of putting patients first by collaborating to improve quality and reduce costs,” said Lisa Cade, BCBSNC Vice President of Network Management.

“BCBSNC is committed to finding new ways to rein in medical costs and make health care more affordable,” said Sean Kerns, vice president of Specialty Markets. “Businesses face the challenge of rising health care costs on a daily basis. Our Get Fit Challenge is a way to spark a little healthy competition within the business community and help companies introduce a new wellness option that can help reduce medical spending.”

“We know that when our employees have a BMI of more than 28, their health care costs can be up to $2,900 higher per employee. As a company and a leader in the North Carolina health care system, that’s not a trend we can sustain, so we made a commitment to get serious about our health,” said Brad Wilson, BCBSNC president and CEO. “Many of the steps that we took through the 5 Ton Challenge are ones that most North Carolina companies can take. We’re living proof that it’s possible to help employees get healthier and address rising health care costs at the same time.”

“We’ve found from a successful pilot program that this model is proven to reduce potentially avoidable complications, improve patient outcomes and reduce the cost of total knee replacement surgeries for our customers,” said Brad Wilson, BCBSNC president and CEO. “Innovative ideas like this bundled payment model are critical to making our health care system better, more effective and more focused on the needs of the patient. It is a win-win for BCBSNC, Triangle Orthopaedic Associates, patients and really the entire health care system.”

“We’ve created two new products that offer more affordable premiums without sacrificing quality coverage,” said Brad Wilson, BCBSNC president and CEO. “Through market research, we’ve learned that a segment of consumers value price over a more traditional broad network of providers. These products appeal to these consumers.”

“It’s a simple equation: We need more physician assistants in North Carolina, and our veterans want the job,” Brad Wilson, president and CEO of BCBSNC, said in a statement. “When these medics return home, they’ll have the opportunity to take their experience in the field and use it to advance their careers and continue to care for patients.”