Heritage Health Prize

Deadline: 2013-04-04

More than 71 million individuals in the United States visit a hospital each year, according to the latest survey from the American Hospital Association. Studies have concluded that in 2006 well over $30 billion was spent on unnecessary hospital admissions. Is there a better way? Can we identify earlier those most at risk and ensure they get the treatment they need? The Heritage Provider Network (HPN) believes that the answer is "yes".

To achieve its goal of developing a breakthrough algorithm that uses available patient data to predict and prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, HPN is sponsoring the Heritage Health Prize Competition (the "Competition"). HPN believes that incentivized competition is the best way to achieve the radical breakthroughs necessary to begin fixing America's health care system.

The winning team will create an algorithm that predicts how many days a patient will spend in the hospital in the next year. Once known, health care providers can develop new care plans and strategies to reach patients before emergencies occur, thereby reducing the number of unnecessary hospitalizations. This will result in increasing the health of patients while decreasing the cost of care. In short, a winning solution will change health care delivery as we know it from an emphasis on caring for the individual after they get sick to a true health care system.

The Competition runs for two years and offers a US $3 million Grand Prize, as well as six Milestone Prizes totaling $230,000, which are awarded in varying amounts at three designated intervals during the Competition. If you would like to participate, please read the following Official Rules for complete details and entry instructions. By entering the Competition, you acknowledge that you have read, understand and agree to be bound by these Official Rules.