News Release

FORT WAYNE — Hylant, Parkview Health and Butler University are partnering to launch an innovation challenge aimed at reducing health care costs. The initiative will begin with an event in April 2025 at Butler University, where student teams will analyze data to identify key factors driving health care spending. In a second phase, an Innovation Competition will invite forward-thinking solutions for addressing rising health care spending based on the findings from the first phase.

Hoosiers suffer from higher rates of chronic conditions and significantly higher mortality rates compared to residents in neighboring states. These disparities result in overall higher health care costs and highlight the critical need for effective, lower-cost interventions to improve health care outcomes before acute care is needed.

Building on Parkview Health’s successful history of innovation challenges, a “Datapalooza” kickoff event will allow student teams to analyze Medicaid patient data provided by the state of Indiana’s Family and Social Services Administration. The student teams will be tasked with identifying key factors driving high health care costs, including specific health conditions and demographic influences.

Leveraging the factors identified during the Datapalooza, an Innovation Competition will solicit groundbreaking solutions to effectively reduce health care spending. Innovation Competition semi-finalists will be offered the opportunity to participate in an Accelerator program, or a program that provides resources and support for early-stage startups. The challenge concludes with a pitch competition, where Accelerator participants present their innovations for final judging and additional opportunities.

Hylant, an insurance brokerage firm with a deep understanding of employer perspectives on health care costs, joins this collaborative effort saying that the partnership reflects their commitment to helping employers and individuals manage risk in ways that not only protect their assets but also improve their overall well-being.

“This initiative is a great reflection of what we stand for at Hylant,” Nikki Galbraith, president of Hylant Fort Wayne, said. “We’re proud to partner with Parkview and Butler to drive forward innovative solutions that align with our mission of making a positive impact on health care.”

Decreasing health care costs is an important issue for Parkview Health, which committed in 2020 to $1 billion in rate reductions over five years. As the largest employer in northeast Indiana and a state leader in quality and patient satisfaction, Parkview Health views the partnership with Butler and Hylant as a natural extension of its commitment to furthering measures that support cost reduction.
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“Preventive care, aligned with the social determinants of health, is crucial to reducing and avoiding expensive health care procedures and treatments. We’re excited to support a bold initiative that aligns with our mission to inspire well-being,” said Sarah GiaQuinta, senior vice president for community health and equity, Parkview Health. “This challenge will bring together diverse perspectives to address one of health care’s most pressing issues.”

The initiative is equally important to Butler University, a leader in health sciences education. Each year, Butler provides hundreds of graduates to the healthcare field through its College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

“Butler is committed to addressing the ongoing challenges in our health care systems,” Bob Soltis, dean of Butler’s COPHS, said. “We are launching a new strategic direction in health professions education that includes new academic programs, reimagined partnerships, and a commitment to community engagement. Our portfolio of new programs, which includes the launch of a B.S. in Nursing program in 2025, will focus on addressing the social determinants of health to better serve our community. This innovation challenge underscores our efforts to prepare the next generation of health care leaders by exploring innovative solutions to reduce health care costs.”

Parkview, Butler and Hylant invite all interested parties to participate in the Innovation Competition. Additional information will be shared in the coming months.