Kortney Cruz, senior vice president of Government Markets at Independence Blue Cross (IBX), recently joined a panel discussion at the Oliver Wyman Health Innovation Summit 2026.
The session, “Medicare Advantage at the Breaking Point: Rebuilding the Payer Provider Partnership,” looked at the growing pressure on both health plans and health systems. It covered what it will take to keep value-based care working for both sides over the long term.
The panelists discussed how payers and providers are rethinking their agreements. They talked everything from expanding risk sharing to scaling it back, redesigning contracts, and stepping away from these arrangements entirely.
Cruz was joined by Brent Estes, senior vice president and chief managed care officer at Mount Sinai Health System, and Eric Gallagher, chief business development officer and system vice president of value-based care at Ochsner Health Network. Sarah Snider, a partner in Oliver Wyman’s Health and Life Sciences practice, moderated the panel.
The annual summit brings health care leaders together to discuss affordability, AI, consumer expectations, and the long-term sustainability of the health care system. This year’s summit was held September 28 through 30.
