Wilmington, DE 2/20/2025
4C Digital Health, a leading health analytics company and independent partner to self-insured employers that provides unbiased insights into employee medical claims and financial data, has announced the inaugural winners of its Marshall Allen Legacy Awards, in honor of a fearless reporter and dedicated educator who during his life inspired and lifted up those who strove for transparency and honesty in healthcare. The awards event that took place last evening (February 19th) during a reception in Wilmington, Delaware was part of 4C's annual conference. The reception and ceremony was hosted by former HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson and included over 100 attendees.
"The recipients of the Marshall Allen Legacy Awards represent the best and most forward-thinking innovators and entrepreneurs coming out of our amazing partner community here at 4C Digital Health and indeed the entire community that is revolutionizing healthcare benefits. Collectively, they are empowering all stakeholders with the information and insights they need to create the best-in-class healthcare benefits that employers desperately want the most. These award recipients demonstrate the courage, advocacy, education and innovation that Marshall Allen encouraged and nurtured during his too-brief life. You each reflect the best of Marshall's qualities, and I know he would have been immensely proud of all of you. My deepest gratitude to each and every one of you," - Ron Templeton, CEO and President of 4C Digital Health.
Marshall Allen passed away on May 19, 2024, at the age of 52. His sudden death from a heart attack was met with an outpouring of tributes from colleagues, students, and readers who admired his dedication to exposing injustices within the healthcare system.
Allen's investigative work as a journalist had a profound impact on healthcare reporting. His series "Do No Harm," published in the Las Vegas Sun, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2011 and won the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting. This series exposed the relationship between hospital care and patient deaths, leading to significant policy changes. He also worked for over a decade at ProPublica, where he was instrumental in shining a spotlight on healthcare cost and quality.
Marshall Allen wrote a guidebook, "Never Pay the First Bill", focused on helping readers navigate the often complex and confusing world of healthcare billing. That book provides practical advice on how to avoid overpaying for medical services, detailing strategies for dealing with hospital and insurance company bills. Allen drew on his extensive research and personal experiences to highlight common billing errors, hidden charges, and tactics used by healthcare providers to maximize profits.
Tommy Thompson remembered Allen as a "compassionate and curious investigative reporter and writer who was also funny and loved helping people." Allen meticulously verified every detail that he reported on, but his genius was his keen sense of identifying individual stories that were symptomatic of much larger systemic problems in healthcare. He will be missed.
4C's Inaugural Marshall Allen Legacy Award winners:
Jamie was recognized for her unwavering dedication to education - educating employers on health plan fiduciary duties. With decades of expertise in both ERISA retirement and healthcare, she simplifies complex fiduciary and financial responsibilities, ensuring compliance and value. As co-founder of "Fiduciary In A Box", Jamie has helped employers navigate an increasingly transparent landscape. She remains an inspiring leader in fiduciary matters, earning her a spot as one of the inaugural Marshall Allen award recipients.
Dr. Vora is best known for his work as the Chief Medical Officer of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, and is being recognized for his constant focus on innovation - constantly innovating and emphasizing a holistic approach to improve the health outcomes of the tribe. He has particularly focused on addressing health by harnessing the power of technology and data within his community to address issues like high rates of diabetes. His innovative approaches like telehealth and personalized dietary plans always recognize and protect indigenous cultures, which is all the more reason he is receiving a Marshall Allen award.
Dale is receiving the Marshall Allen award and is being recognized for courage. As the former North Carolina Treasurer and Chairman of the State Employees Health Plan, he challenged his state healthcare industry's biggest players, calling them out as a "cartel" of hospitals and insurers that were driving up prices to the detriment of North Carolina residents. He was unwavering in his commitment to absolute transparency and data access, and it sparked meaningful change in his state and fairer, more transparent practices. His efforts helped reshape North Carolina's healthcare system and they are a powerful example of what Marshall Allen stood for.
Lee is being recognized for advocacy. As the Chief Strategy Officer at the Health Transformation Alliance, he leads initiatives to improve healthcare delivery for large employers. He has worked with Fortune 10 companies, government agencies, and even co-founded the Health Value Exchange, a database of health benefit vendors. Lee is a strong advocate for employers taking charge of their health benefits, and is a founding member of Health Rosetta that advocates for open-source health benefits strategies. He has received numerous accolades for all his work, and now that includes being recognized as one of the inaugural Marshall Allen award recipients.
4C Digital Health is a leading independent healthcare transparency and analytics company headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware. We partner exclusively with self-insured employers to deliver unbiased insights and recommendations around their employee health benefits.