GBA & NDF Present: Emerging Gov Tech Monthly Livestream- February Wrap Up

February’s Topic – Healthcare & Life Sciences: Tackling $1 Trillion in Fraud, Waste, and Abuse

The Government Blockchain Association (GBA) and the National DigiFoundry (NDF) hosted the February Emerging Gov Tech Livestream, featuring Ms. Heather Flannery, CEO of AI MindSystems, and Mr. Pradeep Goel, CEO of Tuum.io (formerly Solve.Care).

The Problem: A Broken Healthcare System

“No one disagrees that the system is broken,” remarked Mr. Goel, noting that many of today’s healthcare practices were designed 70–80 years ago and have failed to evolve with modern needs.

“We are paying for time and materials—not outcomes,” added Ms. Flannery. She pointed out that without the right incentives, much of the $4.5 trillion U.S. healthcare budget is wasted. Patients, she argued, have little motivation to navigate the system effectively when they lack control over their own data.

Shockingly, the healthcare data market generated $66.56 billion in 2023, yet none of that profit returns to the patients whose data fuels the system.

The Solution: Policy, Technology & Consumer Awareness

While the challenges are significant, solutions exist. “The answer lies in policy, technology, and consumer awareness,” said Mr. Goel. He emphasized that by educating consumers and increasing transparency, government resources can drive better healthcare outcomes.

A Radical but Achievable Proposal: Give Patients Ownership of Their Data

One key recommendation from the panel: patients should own their healthcare data.

“We will see dramatic changes in healthcare when patients have access to their own data,” stated Mr. Goel. Currently, just a few thousand companies own all U.S. healthcare data. These companies have the capability to share it today—but lack the incentive.

A single presidential executive order could mandate that healthcare organizations grant patients full, unfettered rights to their own medical data.

When one attendee questioned the idea of patient data ownership with a sarcastic remark, the response was clear: why not?

As Ms. Flannery concluded, “We are looking for outsized potentials that have eluded our society to date.” Now is the time to redefine the healthcare model—and embracing data ownership is a crucial first step.

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The Emerging Gov Tech Livestream Webinar & Roundtable tackles cutting-edge technology and policy solutions every month. Join us on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 12 Noon EST for more groundbreaking discussions.

Next Session: March 11, 2025
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Next healthcare event- Transforming Healthcare & Life Sciences with Blockchain 2/26 https://gbaglobal.org/events/transforming-healthcare-life-science-with-blockchain/?gde=2025-02-26

Healthcare Resources Page- https://gbaglobal.org/wg-resources-healthcare/