5 California Health Plans Sign Advanced Primary Care Agreement

Aetna, Blue Shield of California, Health Net, Oscar, and UnitedHealthcare signed an agreement to increase investment and access to advanced primary care. The initiative is a first-of-its-kind to standardize the way payers finance, support, and measure the delivery of advanced primary care. The California Advanced Primary Care Initiative enables primary care practices to adopt a high-performing, value-based care model to reduce costs and improve quality and equity. It emphasizes comprehensive, team-based and person-focused care, the integration of behavioral and physical health services, and high-quality outcomes.

Stakeholders are committed to the following goals:

1. Transparency: Report investment and adoption of value-based payment models that support the delivery of advanced primary care. Report performance on the advanced primary care measure set. These metrics enable purchasers, health plans, and providers to identify primary care practices that are delivering the best results for patients
2. Payment: Agree to a value-based payment model for primary care providers. The model would offer flexibility, support team-based care delivery, and incentivize the right care at the right time
3. Investment: Collaboratively set goals for increased primary care investment without increasing the total cost of care
4. Practice Transformation: Provide technical assistance to help primary care practices implement value-based payment models, integrate behavioral health, and reduce disparities

Leading the effort are the California Quality Collaborative and the Integrated Healthcare Association.

Peter Long, executive vice president of Strategy and Health Solutions at Blue Shield of California says, “This initiative reflects our understanding that the impact of any one payer alone is limited. That’s why Blue Shield is committed to partnering with our peer payers and providers to scale the delivery of high-quality primary care across the state. Ultimately, we know this is what is best for our members, and we all must work together to make this vision a reality.” 

Jeff Hermosillo, California Market President, Aetna says, “This innovative initiative will help ensure accessible, affordable, and high-quality primary care to improve the well-being of all Californians.”

Todd May, M.D., vice president, medical director of Health Net’s commercial business says, “As a practicing primary care doctor, I am especially heartened by the opportunity to better integrate behavioral and physical health, a key strategy for effectively addressing our behavioral health crisis.”