Episode 8: Being a True Fiduciary with Mark Watson and Kent Thomas (Part 1)

In this episode, Cristy talks with Mark Watson, who is responsible for turning the Union County, NC health plan into the major success it is today along with the direction and advice of Kent Thomas who helped bring new innovations to the table for consideration.  The success of this local government health plan came as a result of years of digging for better data, finding better answers to their questions and positioning their actions with the ultimate goal in mind--taking down all barriers to better employee healthcare.  It is the question that sometimes gets missed when plans are trying to "save money".  These guys saved their taxpayers' money and saved employees from shelling out needless dollars of their own money just to put their healthcare first.  Listen here and learn from two heros in the benefits industry who have a great story to tell.

Kent Thomas (left) and Mark Watson (right)

Meet Mark Watson and Kent Thomas

These two innovators teamed up to figure out how to provide the highest performing health plan they could design at Union County, NC.  It has been years in the making and they aren't finished yet!  They continue to stay ahead of rising healthcare costs but they lead the charge by incorporating Direct Primary Care into the Union County plan design and by building other innovations that accentuated this unique feature.  Mark Watson joined Union County as the HR Director which is the position he held while implementing these innovations.  Today, Mark is the Union County Manager and leads that county into new and even more innovative times.  Kent Thomas of Carolina Health Alliance has advised Union County during the years where they were venturing into these new initiatives and continues to kick the tires on new ideas and the re-branding of existing ideas.  The future is bright for Union County, NC with these two fiduciaries taking charge!

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