I have posted here several times on the X-PRIZE FOUNDATION relative to genomics research. More on this portion of the competition in the 
area of genomics can be read here. In genomics, there are also new advancements coming along too from those who are not participants as well, so it could come from anywhere as it’s foundation is a science.
This is a nice effort and donation though but due to the fragmentation and the necessity to invoke laws and acts of Congress in so much of this, you could find a few million individuals and companies who may need to split the reward as it is doubtful that a solution would come from one individual or business, as healthcare and the goals for everyone involved are not the same, some want better health and others want better risk management, so will the 2 be able to come together for a unified effort is the big question here in my mind. Unlike some of the other projects, healthcare is a bit of a science but it is also much more than that, and entails so very many entities.
Right now as a country it appears we can all agree to disagree and perhaps a project like this may have some impact with healthcare, and then what goes into “Intelligent Property” and what is common and open source for all to share, just a couple questions that come to mind. This is a big carrot for sure, but small in comparison to the legal fees and fines paid recently in California resulting from the Department of Managed Care for Well Point. Perhaps I would feel a lot better if the donation was not necessarily from a company who’s priority is risk management rather than better healthcare and I do hope this is not a carrot that can’t be reached as healthcare is about humans and so much more than just science. The donations made to healthcare from other foundations like Bill and Melinda Gates, Warren Buffett, and others certainly are proving to be helpful in the overall pursuit of healthcare for all too. BD
Press Release can be read here.
WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE: WLP), the nation’s largest health benefits company, and the WellPoint Foundation, one of the largest corporate 
foundations in the United States are collaborating with the X PRIZE Foundation to develop an X PRIZE designed to generate new ways to address the nation’s serious health care system challenges.
In addition, WellPoint has committed to testing the selected finalists’ entries in its state markets, in order to test their ability to result in viable, creative and achievable health care system changes.
We're looking for ideas and feedback from employers, key health, business and government leaders and independent measurement/auditing entities to develop the structure, guidelines and judging criteria for a Health Care X PRIZE. Our hope is to make this prize development process as collaborative as possible, to ensure that all relevant topics are covered.
If you are one of these people and would like be a part of the prize development process, please contact us.
But we're not just interested in what the experts think about this idea. We want to hear from the public too, because, after all, this prize has the potential to impact all of us. Give us your thoughts, and let us know what kinds of ideas you think we should be exploring!
Together, let’s build a competition to fix the American health care system.
Funding for a Health Care X PRIZE?
The WellPoint Foundation plans to be a key contributor to this collaboration and to lend its expertise as one of the largest corporate foundations in the United States. Through charitable contributions and programs, the Foundation promotes WellPoint’s inherent commitment to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that WellPoint serves. The WellPoint Foundation is planning to fund the prize purse if a definitive prize is conceived and launched next year.
http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/10/15/build-a-better-health-care-system-win-10-million/
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