Skip to main content
Submit Search
Member Log In  

Banner|Aetna Executives Featured as Becker’s Healthcare Thought Leaders

Banner|Aetna’s award-winning executives, Tom Grote, Joanne Mizell, and Robert Groves, MD, have earned their places as health care thought leaders and industry changemakers for their pioneering work at the cutting edge of value-based care. Since Banner|Aetna launched as a joint venture health plan between Banner Health and Aetna in 2017, the company has grown to become a leading health insurer in Arizona and a shining example of what’s possible when payers and providers collaborate.

Joint venture models like Banner|Aetna are the most evolved type of health plan on the value-based care continuum, and due to their complexity, less than a dozen are in operation nationally. The joint venture model evenly splits accountability for profits and losses between payer and provider organizations. This financial alignment transforms the traditionally adversarial relationship between those who provide care and those who pay for it into a collaborative, transparent effort centered around the patient and member experience.

Thanks to this experience at the forefront of payer innovation, Banner|Aetna executives are regularly invited to share insight with top industry publications as health care thought leaders. Here are some key takeaways from the organization’s contributions to Becker’s Healthcare.

Tom Grote, Chief Executive Officer

Banner|Aetna CEO Tom Grote is a visionary leader with 40 years of health care experience and a knack for innovation. Recently, he took the stage in Chicago for Becker’s Healthcare 14th Annual Meeting and the Spring Payer Issues Roundtable and shared his perspective on trending topics like value-based care with thousands of health care executives.

He has been featured on the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, sharing his valuable perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing health plans and how technology can be used to create a better member experience. He’s also contributed to several articles for Becker’s Payer Issues, highlighting Banner|Aetna’s efforts to improve onboarding efforts using high-touch outreach and other important topics.

Tom will participate in the upcoming keynote panel on the future of payer-industry collaboration at the fall 2024 Becker’s Spring Payer Issues Roundtable.

Dr. Robert Groves, Chief Medical Officer & Executive Vice President

Robert Groves, MD, is a highly sought-after health care thought leader and physician with 40 years of experience in private practice, health systems, and payer roles. As an esteemed guest speaker at the Becker’s Spring Payer Issues Roundtable, Dr. Groves shared insight on value-based chronic care management and how AI will impact future payer strategies.

He’s also contributed to the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, where he discussed Banner|Aetna’s high-touch care management approach centered around community-based programs. His inclusion in Becker’s Healthcare’s ongoing speaker series helps illuminate important health care topics, including payer trends and population health strategies.

Dr. Groves will participate in the Shaping the Future: Evolving Prior Authorization in 2024 and Beyond panel at the 2024 Becker’s Fall Payer Issues Roundtable.

Joanne Mizell, Chief Operating Officer

Health care executive Joanne Mizell has been a force for change in the industry for over 30 years. Her operational expertise is instrumental in developing innovative solutions at Banner|Aetna, like an industry-leading frictionless billing initiative, which was covered by Becker’s Payer Issues. Her insight is regularly featured in Becker’s Healthcare, where she offers her perspective on topics like workforce evolution and member onboarding to a variety of articles and interviews.

Joanne has also appeared on the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, sharing what she sees as the best opportunities for growth at Banner|Aetna and other topics.

Banner|Aetna executives Tom Grote, Joanne Mizell, and Dr. Robert Groves are seasoned health care thought leaders with valuable industry insight. Whether sharing their expertise on stage, as contributing authors, or as podcast guests, they continue to shape conversations on the future of health care and the transformative potential of joint venture models. For members of the media interested in speaking with Banner|Aetna or its leaders, please reach out here.

Transforming health care, together

Banner|Aetna aims to offer access to more efficient and effective member care at a more affordable cost. We join the right medical professionals with the right technology, so members benefit from quality, personalized health care designed to help them reach their health ambitions.

Contact us

What's New

Health benefits and health insurance plans are offered, underwritten, and/or administered by Banner Health and Aetna Health Insurance Company and/or Banner Health and Aetna Health Plan Inc. (Banner|Aetna). Banner|Aetna is an affiliate of Banner Health and of Aetna Life Insurance Company and its affiliates (Aetna). Each insurer has sole financial responsibility for its own products. Aetna and Banner Health provide certain management services to Banner|Aetna. Aetna, CVS Pharmacy® and MinuteClinic, LLC (which either operates or provides certain management support services to MinuteClinic-branded walk-in clinics) are part of the CVS Health® family of companies.

On-Demand Virtual Care with 98point6 by Transcarent

Banner|Aetna offers access to 98point6 by Transcarent, a virtual care solution that enables members to connect to care anytime, anywhere via secure in-app messaging.

Treatment is provided by a U.S.-based care team, including board-certified doctors, who can diagnose and treat over 1,000 conditions, outline care options, prescribe* medication, and order labs or imaging when appropriate—all through the convenience of a mobile app.

Key Features:

  • Audio, video, and Spanish translation support available as needed
  • Access to care plans and lab results directly within the app
  • Referrals to in-network resources and specialists
  • Care is available in all 50 states and Washington D.C.
  • 24/7/365 access with an average wait time of under 2 minutes—no appointment required.

Available to enrolled Banner|Aetna members and covered dependents age 1+* in an eligible plan.

Cost: Low-to-no-cost per visit*, depending on plan details.

*FOR ENROLLED MEMBERS AND COVERED DEPENDENTS AGE 1+: 98point6 by Transcarent is available to members age 1-17 when an adult parent or guardian is also enrolled in the plan. Access to 98point6 by Transcarent is not included in all plans.

*FOR LOW-TO-NO-COST WITH 98POINT6 BY TRANSCARENT: Members enrolled in a health savings account (HSA) or qualified high-deductible health plan (HDHP) must pay the applicable cost-share for virtual care visit until their deductible is met, after which services will be provided at no cost-share. All other health plan members pay $0 per virtual care visit regardless of whether their deductible has been met. Please refer to your plan documents for your applicable cost-share amounts.

*FOR 98POINT6 BY TRANSCARENT PRESCRIBING: 98point6 by Transcarent providers do not prescribe controlled substances (such as opioids), lifestyle medications (such as Viagra and Propecia) or weight loss medications (Wegovy or Ozempic). 98point6 by Transcarent and Transcarent Clinic clinicians are independent contractors and are neither agents nor employees of Banner|Aetna or plans administered by Banner|Aetna, and does not guarantee that a prescription will be written. Transcarent Clinic providers will not prescribe DEA-controlled substances, non-therapeutic drugs and certain other drugs that may be harmful because of their potential for abuse. Clinicians reserve the right to deny care for potential misuse of services

This material is for information only. An application must be completed to obtain coverage. Rates and benefits vary by location. Providers are independent contractors and are not agents of Banner|Aetna. Provider participation may change without notice.

Health insurance plans contain exclusions and limitations.