At Abarca Forward 2024, held at the beautiful Fairmont El San Juan Hotel in Puerto Rico, healthcare leaders and innovators came together for a day of insightful discussions, collaborative sessions, and the priceless opportunity to meet and greet other industry experts. Focusing on two pivotal themes—AI in healthcare and the transformation of the PBM model—this third edition of the event provided a platform for participants to explore the latest trends, share best practices, and envision the future of healthcare together.
The day began with a warm welcome from Medcity editor-in-chief Arundhati Parmar, setting the tone for what was to come. Jason Borschow, CEO of Abarca, then took the stage to provide an overview of the event and its objectives, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and innovation in driving positive change in the healthcare industry.
The morning sessions delved into the applications of AI in healthcare, with keynote speakers John Barto from Microsoft and Bertil Chappuis from Xtillion sharing their insights on the potential of AI to enable seamless and personalized healthcare. Following the two keynotes, we held a co-creation session that encouraged participants to brainstorm innovative ways to accelerate the integration of AI into healthcare systems, fostering lively discussions and idea exchange.
After a well-deserved lunch break, the afternoon sessions shifted focus to transforming the PBM model. Jim Gartner from PerformRx started the discussions with a keynote presentation on the evolving role of pharmacists and pharmacies in value-driven healthcare models. Panel discussions on clinical interventions, patient outcomes, and pricing transparency further explored the challenges and opportunities in reshaping the PBM landscape and were wonderful to witness and participate in.
One of the event’s highlights was the panel discussion on weight loss management, which examined the rising popularity of GLP-1s and their potential as a sustainable solution for patients and payers. The session brought together different perspectives from Blue Cross of Idaho, FRESH Medicine, Medtronic, and Welldoc to share their insights.
During a panel discussion moderated by Alison Lum from Blue Shield of California, executives from Gemini, Waltz Health, and GoodRx explored how technology and consumer tools can be aligned to create a more seamless and personalized healthcare experience. The discussion focused on strategies to improve the quality of care, enhance provider experience, and lower costs simultaneously.
The day concluded with Jason Borschow’s closing presentation. In it, he reflected on the key takeaways from the event and highlighted the importance of collaboration and innovation in driving positive change in the healthcare industry.
And there was no shortage of a good time! With coffee, sweets, goodies, and a delicious lunch, this year’s Forward was truly one for the books.
As we reflect on the insights and discussions shared at Abarca Forward 2024, we feel encouraged by the collective commitment of our participants to shape a future where healthcare is more seamless, personalized, and accessible for everyone. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our sponsors for their generous support, without which the edition would not have been possible. We look forward to continuing the conversation and driving the transformation needed to enable seamless and personalized healthcare for everyone.
See you at Abarca Forward 2025!