Fort Wayne, IN – Parkview Health, Butler University and Hylant have partnered to launch the 2025 “Healthy Care, Healthy Costs” Innovation Challenge, an ambitious initiative aimed at identifying and accelerating solutions to reduce healthcare costs while improving outcomes for high-risk populations. This marks the fifth iteration of Parkview’s global innovation competition, building on the success of previous challenges focused on maternal, pediatric, and community health.
The initiative began on April 8, 2025, with a “Total Cost of Care Data Challenge” hosted at Butler University, where 10 student teams analyzed Medicaid patient data provided by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. Their objective: identify the most significant cost drivers in the state’s healthcare system, including chronic conditions, aging, behavioral health, and social determinants of health.
The teams uncovered several critical insights that highlight both the human and financial impact of preventable health issues across Indiana. Among the most compelling findings:
- Senior Falls Are a Major Health Concern in IndianaMore than 30% of Indiana seniors experience falls each year, making it a leading cause of injury and illness among older adults. These incidents result in costly emergency care, hospital admissions, and long-term rehabilitation.
- Physical Inactivity Is Fueling Chronic ConditionsOnly 1 of 4 adults aged 65 and older in the U.S. get enough physical activity, increasing risks for cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and cancer—contributing significantly to long-term healthcare spending.
- Fall Risk Assessments Could Save Lives and Cut CostsMaking annual fall risk assessments a routine part of senior checkups could save the state of Indiana an estimated $115 million and prevent approximately 41 deaths annually—if just 50% of seniors participated in the assessments.
These findings now form the foundation of this year’s broader challenge, which invites startups, researchers, public health professionals and healthcare leaders to propose solutions that address:
- Chronic disease prevention and management
- Behavioral health and lifestyle-related drivers of cost (e.g., falls, smoking, inactivity)
- Access to care in rural or underserved areas
- Scalable, tech-enabled screening and early intervention models
- Cross-sector collaboration to reduce total healthcare spending
The Innovation Challenge follows a structured timeline to identify, support, and accelerate promising healthcare solutions. The application period is open from May 1 to June 29, 2025, inviting applicants to submit detailed proposals for their innovations.
On July 7, 8--10 semi-finalist teams will be selected to advance to the Innovation Competition, held virtually on August 28. There, teams will present their solutions to a panel from Parkview Health. One winning team will be awarded a $10,000 cash prize, and up to five finalist teams will be chosen to join the Accelerator program.
Running from September 8 to October 31, the Accelerator offers teams the opportunity to refine and test their solutions with guidance from Parkview mentors. The challenge concludes on November 20 with a Final Pitch Day, where finalists will present to healthcare professionals, Parkview leaders, and investors as they compete for pilot opportunities and additional funding.
“The Total Cost of Care Data Challenge taught us that rising healthcare costs demand upstream, scalable solutions,” said Ethel Massing, director of Innovation and Strategic Enterprises at Parkview Health. “We’re proud to continue this work with Hylant and Butler University by inviting innovators from around the world to co-create a healthier, more affordable future.”
Parkview has established a track record of bold steps to reduce healthcare costs. Since 2020, Parkview has renegotiated contracts with major health insurance companies, yielding $1.1 billion in total rate reductions.
For more information or to apply, visit: https://www.parkview.com/mirro-center/innovation.