Leveraging 25 years of industry experience, Tria Federal CEO Tim Borchert shares his perspective on what he calls “the healthcare trilemma” – the constant struggle balancing the trade-offs between cost, quality, and access – and the unprecedented challenges and opportunities in federal modernization, particularly as agencies face growing pressure to transform their digital operations.
Breaking with Tradition
“The pandemic exposed critical gaps in our federal healthcare systems that we can’t ignore. Now throw in the new administration’s focus on efficiency and effectiveness, and the challenges look even more significant. It’s not just about outdated technology – it’s about fundamentally transforming how agencies approach their missions.”
Borchert notes that the traditional model of federal healthcare technology is breaking down. Legacy systems and fragmented data infrastructure impede real-time decision-making. Growing cybersecurity threats add complexity to every modernization effort. Most critically, agencies find themselves forced to choose between maintaining current operations and investing in future capabilities.
“That’s a false choice. Agencies need to do both simultaneously. They need to break down data silos while enhancing security, leverage human-centered design, and enable rapid iteration while ensuring program stability.”
This vision is driving Tria Federal’s recent moves. In November, the company acquired Softrams, a leading technology firm specializing in human-centered digital services. The combination brings together 1,400 employees supporting more than 20 federal health and public safety agencies, with deep roots in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Defense Health Agency (DHA), and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), where Softrams has built a reputation for driving innovation while maintaining performance during periods of transition.
Reorganizing for Impact
The acquisition of Softrams coincides with a significant reorganization at Tria. The company has aligned around three customer-centric business units: Military and Veteran Health, led by Diana Ceban, who joined from SAIC; Public Health, under Katie Webb, formerly of IBM; and Public Safety, which is focused on homeland security and defense customers, and is led by Michael Anderson, formerly of Guidehouse.
Tria has also established five integrated service lines that cut across these units, focused on results management, integrated health optimization, next-generation analytics, financial transformation, and digital modernization. Each service line brings together cutting-edge technical expertise and digital services informed by deep customer expertise and relationships.
“This structure reflects where federal healthcare is heading. Agencies need partners who understand both their mission context and the art of the possible in technology. You can’t separate customer intimacy from technical implementation if you want to be a best-in-class partner to the government.”
The AI Imperative
Emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence – which Borchert views as a common “integration layer” spanning Tria’s services – are becoming essential for core functions like detecting fraud, processing claims, and delivering care. But Borchert emphasizes that successful transformation requires more than just implementing new technology.
“Agencies need to fundamentally transform how they approach data collection, analysis, and service delivery. Our goal is to help them leverage real-time data to improve healthcare outcomes while reducing costs.”
This means building systems that can share information seamlessly while maintaining robust privacy protections, automating routine processes while freeing staff to focus on high-value activities, and enabling data-driven decisions through integrated analytics platforms.
A Proven Path Forward
Recent modernization efforts have demonstrated that agencies can successfully upgrade mission-critical systems while maintaining operational continuity. Borchert points to examples like implementing real-time data platforms that improve decision-making and deploying AI-enabled solutions that augment human capabilities rather than replace them.
“These aren’t just isolated successes. They represent a repeatable methodology for transforming how federal agencies achieve their critical missions in the digital age.”
Looking ahead, Borchert is optimistic about Tria’s ability to deliver value to the federal government and minimize the negative trade-offs associated with the healthcare trilemma. Through its technology innovation group, Tria Labs, the company is already developing and testing emerging technologies focused on AI, low-code/no-code development, intelligent automation, and cybersecurity.
“When agencies have the right approach and partners, they can navigate the complexity of modern government operations while delivering meaningful improvements in service to citizens. This isn’t a far-off vision – it’s achievable today.”
Not Yet a Premium Partner/Sponsor? Learn more about the OS AI Premium Corporate and Individual Plans here. Plans start at $295 annually.