February 7, 2013: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

For decades, economists and policy makers have debated the sustainability of a system in which the growth of health care spending out-paces the rest of the economy. In the wake of the financial crisis of 2008-2009, and facing an inversion of the demographic pyramid as baby boomers age and ramp up medical spending, America is at a crossroads. Hospitals and health systems are replacing aging infrastructure with inherently more expensive facilities, designed during more forgiving economic times to deliver a superior patient experience. An ongoing technologic arms race, combined with the advent of electronic medical records, adds enormous fixed costs while a shift from chemical to biological pharmaceuticals drives an unprecedented variable cost spiral, just as the country comes to grips with its inability to pay the bills. Health care reform hinges expanded insurance coverage and incremental spending on the promise of savings from an intuitively appealing but largely unproven concept known as "population management". Tom Robertson, Senior Vice President of UHC, will reflect on the 40 year track record of population management, challenge intuition, and suggest an alternative approach looking forward.

Driving Directions:

PARKING: Chicago Booth has arranged with the AMC Theater-River East Self-parking Garage to provide discounted parking:

300 East Illinois Street (AMC Theater-River East Self Park Garage)$6.00 after 3:00pm Garage: Self Park Facility Payment: Automated; at pay-stations by cash or credit card or upon exit pay by credit card only. To receive discounted rate: There is a card validator at the first floor security desk of the Gleacher Center. The new system for the AMC Theater- River East Self Park Garage is automated. You will only need to insert your parking card in the validator and the new price will be automatically applied. You can validate your parking ticket at any time between your arrival at and departure from the Gleacher Center. When you leave the lot you will be charged for the lower $6.00 fee.

Detailed Directions: Garage is located next to PJ Clarks and below the AMC Theater. When traveling east on Illinois cross over Columbus and enter the Garage on the left (north) side of the street. If driving west on Grand (north of Theater), you can enter the garage ½ block before Columbus on the left (south) side of the street.

$10.00 per person

Program

6:00 PM-6:30 PM: Networking (cash bar and appetizers)

6:30 PM-7:30 PM: Presentation

7:30 PM-8:00 PM: Question and Answer

Registration

Register Online

Deadline: 2/7/2013

Questions

Ernest Chiodo,
312-351-0717

Speaker Profiles

Tom Robertson (Speaker)
Senior Vice President, UHC
http://www.uhc.edu

Tom Robertson is in his nineteenth year as a senior vice president for UHC, a national alliance of 116 academic medical centers. In this role, Mr. Robertson directs UHC initiatives focused on business strategy and economic research. Prior to joining UHC, Mr. Robertson served as vice president for Aon Consulting, where he managed relationships with Fortune 500 clients, concentrating on employee health benefits design and actuarial services. Previously, Mr. Robertson was director of planning for the nation's largest Taft-Hartley trust fund, negotiating regional and national managed care contracts. Beginning in 1979, Mr. Robertson spent eight years managing health maintenance organizations, and was chief executive officer of health plans in South Carolina and Arizona. Mr. Robertson is a nationally recognized speaker in the area of health care economics, with a particular emphasis on academic medicine. He holds a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Illinois and an MBA from the University of Chicago, where he served as an adjunct member of the faculty in the Graduate Program in Health Administration and Policy.