Traditionally, payers and providers stayed in their lane. They had an overlap on occasion, but that was infrequently and often temporary. Payer and provider partnerships in 2020 were significant. We see a trend of coopetition. Unlikely, players realize they need to partner to increase their environmental fitness.
- BCBS of California acquires a 2,700 physician group
- CVS-Aetna open ~1000 drive through COVID-19 testing sites in May as part of its MinuteClinic expansion strategy. Today that has expanded to over 4800 CVS test sites
- Optum Acquires post-acute care management platform Navihealth
- Partners in Primary Care, the Humana-owned medical group, opens 20 new primary care centers.
- Independence Blue Cross and CHOP enter a 5-year agreement to expand value-based care initiatives
- Cigna partnered with Spectrum health of Michigan’s health plan. They prioritize health and increase provider access
- BCBS of North Carolina incentivizes primary care providers with advanced, lump-sum payments to participate in BCBS’s value-based care program in 2021.
It’s evident from the payer and provider partnerships that something has changed from the days of the past. There is a renewed sense of urgency. The timeline has been compressed. Ideas that months or years ago were unheard of now are the discussion starters at leadership meetings. Unlikely partners are finding common ground by identifying shared objectives. What we’re experiencing in the healthcare ecosystem is the first private step towards healthcare interoperability.