Longitude Health will launch an initiative next year to help providers improve care for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries and other patients covered by outcome-based reimbursement models.
The health system-backed company on Tuesday appointed Dr. Craig Samitt to lead Longitude PHM, which aims to help health systems tackle population health and accelerate what has been a slow shift from fee-for-service to value-based payment models. Longitude Health, which health system executives described as a testing ground to expand access to drugs, bolster care coordination and streamline billing processes, launched a specialty pharmacy endeavor last month.
Related: Longitude Health targets specialty pharmacy
Samitt was previously the president and CEO of the insurer Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.
“I have long envisioned a future where it’s achievable for healthcare to be high quality, service-oriented and affordable all at once,” he said in a news release. “Delivering on this promise will require stronger partnerships that unite the strengths of health systems, health plans and innovators.”
Longitude PHM will focus on optimizing care for Medicare Advantage, Medicare Shared Savings Program and other accountable care organization patients through new technology and treatment strategies, according to the release.
Health systems executives for years have stressed the importantance of decreasing the industry’s reliance on payment models that reimburse providers based on the quantity rather than quality of care. However, that transition has been slow. Many providers are hesitant to risk losing revenue if they do not meet quality measures under alternative reimbursement models.
