As one of the largest providers of health care to members of the State Employee Health Plan, Duke University Health System (DUHS) is committed to caring for those who serve our state. We are dedicated to delivering to those members – and all patients – high-quality care that is affordable and accessible.

At DUHS, we are always striving to find the best ways to achieve those goals and have been a leader in innovation. In recent years, DUHS has embraced new payment models that emphasize our patients’ health outcomes over the volume of medical services, leading to significant cost reductions for our patients and their insurers. We have also advanced transparency and predictability by adopting new ways to help our patients understand and prepare for the financial aspects of their care.

In the current impasse with the state treasurer’s office, we have worked to find common ground with state officials to develop thoughtful and practical measures to reduce costs in the state employee plan while maintaining the highest quality care possible. DUHS will continue to work collaboratively to help develop new paths forward that improve patient outcomes and experiences. We are hopeful that all parties will agree to work together to create lasting change and improve care delivery, quality, access, and health plan costs for our state employees.

Our patients and all state health plan members should trust that the various parties working on their behalf have their health and wellbeing at the forefront. That is our priority, and we look forward to continuing to serve the 43,000 state health plan employees and beneficiaries who have made DUHS their health care home.