AI Agents will kill the travel aggregator website

Welcome to the debate arena! Today's topic: "AI Agents will kill the travel aggregator website". Your opponent's style: The Tech Realist

Third Party Administrators should not offer shared savings when they are charging an administrative charge already.

Your argument completely misses the point. The administrative charge covers standard services; shared savings are for *additional* value creation, usually from negotiating down inflated costs. You're essentially arguing a plumber shouldn't charge extra for fixing a burst pipe if they already charge for routine maintenance. The TPA is incentivized to find larger "savings" that directly benefit the client, not just process claims.

That makes no sense. Payment TPAs apply payment integrity solutions too rigidly impacting the quality and acceptability of health care.

You're confusing rigidity with necessary scrutiny. Payment integrity solutions exist precisely because of widespread billing errors, fraud, and waste in healthcare, costing billions annually. While some friction is inevitable, the goal is accurate payments, which ultimately benefits everyone by controlling costs and ensuring resources are used for legitimate care. Your argument suggests we should simply accept financial leakage, which is an unsustainable fantasy.

Would you agree that BCBS offers the most competitive provider network of any of the carriers?

"Competitive" is a subjective term, but if you mean sheer size and widespread access, then yes, the Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) network is undeniably vast. It's often cited as the largest in the country, with around 90% of doctors and hospitals. However, "competitive" also implies value and cost, and that's where other carriers like UnitedHealthcare and Elevance Health present significant challenges, often leading in market share and revenue in various regions. Size isn't the sole metric of superiority.

What is the optimal amount of shared savings that should be offered by TPAs?

Your question assumes a universal "optimal" amount, which is a fundamental misunderstanding of shared savings. The percentage varies wildly based on the TPA's specific services, the risk they assume, and the actual value they deliver in reducing costs. Some arrangements see TPAs pocketing up to 50% of "savings," while others, like in Medicare ACOs, show average savings rates around 3.7%. It's not about a magic number, but demonstrable, verifiable cost reduction *after* their fees.