The 2024 PHA Innovation and Adoption Summit Features a Powerhouse Lineup of Speakers |
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,The 2024 PHA Innovation and Adoption Summit features a powerhouse lineup of speakers including:
-Fireside Chat Dr. Shantanu Agrawal, M.D., MPhil Chief Health Officer at Elevance Health will discuss Whole Health Population-Based Payment.
-Keynote Dr. Neeraj Gandotra, M.D., Chief Medical Director of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will present on Integrated Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment.
-Keynote Arrah Tabe-Bedward M.S., J.D., Deputy Director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMS Innovation Center) will present on Updates on the Adoption of Innovative Care and Payment Models.
Registration has been open for over a month and excitement is growing. Do not wait for the July 31st early bird registration deadline. Register today for the Population Health Alliance 2024 Innovation and Adoption Summit in Washington, D.C. October 23rd and 24th at the Top of the Hill Conference Center.
As the only multi-stakeholder Population Health Improvement professional and trade association, the event will focus on a changing healthcare marketplace featuring AI and technology advancement, guidance to achieve quality of care targets, cost reduction efforts and other methodologies to improve efficiency. The intimate environment attracts C-suite healthcare executives and allows attendees to build new business relationship partners.
In addition to interactive sessions and networking opportunities, here are some highlights of industry leaders you will hear from:
Other sessions include:
-Fireside Chat: Advancing Senior Health Through Innovative Strategies
Moderated by Rose Maljanian, Population Health Alliance Chairman of the Board and Chair Emeritus & CEO HealthCAWS and Mary Beth Donahue, President & CEO, Better Medicare Alliance, two health plan leaders will showcase what works.
-Fireside Chat: Healthcare Investor Views of Population Health
Moderated by Bill Lucia, Executive Director, Bill Lucia Associates, LLC. Bill will chat with Scott Whyte, Partner Value Creation, HEP Fund.
Plus, expert panels on topics ranging from Advancing Digital Healthcare, Healthcare Systems Challenges and Solutions, and Social Care & Health Equity.
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Thank You to PHA's 2024 Innovation & Adoption Summit Sponsors |
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Now is the Time to Make the Most of Your Presence at PHA's 2024 Innovation and Adoption Summit
For information about sponsorship opportunities, please review our
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PHA Welcomes New President-Elect and Board Member
During the Population Health Alliance Board of Directors Meeting on April 17th, 2024, Justin Neece, President and CEO of i2i Population Health was ratified as President-Elect.
Additionally, John Patton, Executive Director of the ProVention Health Foundation was ratified as a new Board Member. Please share your congrats with Justin and John.
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PHA Welcomes Banyan Medical Solutions as New Member!
“We are pleased to welcome Banyan Medical to PHA. Their dedication to supporting the nursing workforce through technology and remote extenders is commendable and much needed during this critical time of workforce shortages facing health systems today," said Rose Maljanian Chairman of the Board and Chair Emeritus Population Health Alliance and Chairman & CEO HealthCAWS.
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What about Digital Apps?
Thank you to those who responded to the survey I included with Boosting Medicare Star Ratings: What Would You Do? on March 26, 2024. In that article, I asked respondents to rate 14 initiatives on each one’s potential to raise Medicare Stars performance (Likert Scale of 1-5, with 5 being the most effective) on the following HEDIS® measures: Colorectal Cancer Screening (COL), Breast Cancer Screening (BCS), Controlling Blood Pressure/Blood Pressure Control with Patients with Diabetes (CBP/BPD), Cholesterol-lowering Medication Adherence for People with Heart Disease (SPC), and Hemoglobin A1c Control for Patients with Diabetes (HBD). There were eight responses – so no conclusions should be inferred, but the results were interesting.
- The highest-rated initiative was to begin clinical pharmacist outreach to members for comprehensive medication management to optimize blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes management.
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The second was eliminating co-pays, co-insurance, and deductibles for medications that treat hypertension, diabetes, and cholesterol.
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In third place was sending a mobile mammography van to communities with the lowest mammography rates.
I was encouraged to see comprehensive medication management at the top of the list. Optimizing medication regimens and adherence through comprehensive medication management could improve four of the HEDIS measures in the case study (CBP, BPD, SPC, HBD) and several other common measures. Eliminating financial barriers to medication adherence also makes sense, as does providing access to mammography for members with transportation and other access barriers.
What were the lowest-rated initiatives?
- Sending practice quality improvement specialists to evaluate workflows and coaching the practice on improvement strategies.
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Requiring clinicians to attend a three-part educational series on closing quality gaps.
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Licensing/distributing digital health apps to promote cancer screening, diabetes self-care, and blood pressure control.
Again, with only eight responses, no conclusions can be made, though two of these make sense. Improvement specialists could provide short-term help, but maintaining workflow changes can be difficult once the support ends. Requiring clinicians to attend educational sessions would be a significant challenge, given that most clinical teams are experiencing information overload and dealing with burdensome technology and documentation requirements.
What about digital health apps? According to an IQVIA United States report from 2021, more than 350,000 apps were available in 2021 – if not more, in 2024. The graphic at the bottom of the IQVIA landing page illustrates the maturity range and available evidence for several clinical conditions. Diabetes and hypertension are topics for which digital health apps have the most evidence. There are multiple evaluation frameworks to assess digital health apps (see references below), and entities such as ORCHA aim to commercialize this evaluation (see the Digital Health Assessment Framework). And, of course, digital health apps that embed artificial intelligence/augmented intelligence and large language models merit another level of consideration.
What are the barriers to digital health/mobile health application uptake?
This interesting 2023 scoping review identified ten problems and barriers related to using digital health apps, including non-intuitive navigation, lack of personalization, and limited digital literacy.
Two common issues I hear from colleagues are that:
- Many people have more than one condition, and while there is a blend of general health and navigator apps, most apps address just one or a few conditions. Asking patients to have one app for hypertension, another for diabetes, and a third to manage depression is a non-starter.
- Data and insights generated by digital health apps are not typically available to clinicians and their teams with their everyday workflows.
As work in digital health continues to expand, we expect more apps to become available, some of which will have evidence of efficacy and regulatory approval. Development and validation are just the first steps. For apps to be used, they must be integrated into clinical practice. We have outlined some of the key areas that will need to be addressed: education and awareness, digital formularies, workflow integration, payment models, and patient/provider support. Integrating apps into routine clinical practice will be essential for digital health to achieve its full potential.
What do you think? Are you deploying digital health apps in your organization? Are they effective? How did you choose them?
The Population Health Alliance (PHA) is committed to Quality and Continuity of Care. Our key priorities are advancing value-based care, improving consumer engagement, and addressing social determinants and health equity. If these issues or the topic of this week's article interests you, join us. Contribute your voice, ideas, and energy. Find out more on our membership page.
Click here to access PHA's LinkedIn Page for additional content.
Michael S. Barr, MD, MBA, MACP, FRCP
Sr. Director, Population Health Improvement
Population Health Alliance
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Introducing PHA Digital Badges for Corporate Partners
PHA recently created digital badges for its Platinum, Gold and Bronze Corporate Partners. An example badge is shown here. Partnership includes all of the Summit sponsorship benefits as well as your PHA membership. We will be reaching out to current members to see if they wish to become PHA Corporate Partners. The digital badges can be used in your communications and marketing communication and shared on your corporate website, displaying your support of PHA and the Population Health industry.
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Take a look at some of the latest happenings from our PHA Members |
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Health Equity Cannot Be Achieved Without Data Equity
CHICAGO – To reduce inequities in the U.S. health system, the Data Equity Coalition is calling for standardized data collection methods around race, ethnicity, language (REL), sexual orientation, gender identity (SOGI) and disability status through a new series of issue briefs.
“Data standardization is crucial to advancing health equity and creating a better system of health—one centered on trust,” said Blue Cross Blue Shield Association President and CEO, Kim Keck. “Data is more than just numbers—data represents real people. When every part of the health care system collects the same inclusive information, we can work together to ensure people get the care that they need.”
Significant inequities plague the U.S. health care system and disproportionately impact historically marginalized racial, ethnic, socioeconomic and LGBTQ+ communities. As a result, these underserved and under-represented communities experience birth complications at higher rates, face greater barriers to accessing mental health care and are more likely to die from treatable and preventable conditions. Without clear data standards, these equity gaps will persist. Read full story.
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American College of Lifestyle Medicine announces unique screening tool for clinicians to efficiently assess patient dietary patterns
ST. LOUIS, Mo., April 30, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) has developed a clinical tool to help health care professionals incorporate a food as medicine approach into their practice by assessing and tracking the proportion of whole, unrefined plant-based foods and water intake in their patients' dietary patterns.
The ACLM Diet Screener, a 27-item diet assessment tool available free on ACLM's website, was designed to guide clinical conversations around diet and support nutrition prescriptions, while also being brief enough for use during routine clinical encounters. A multidisciplinary team of clinicians provided input on development of the tool. Read full story.
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Independent Health, Family of Companies Honored as Best Places to Work for in New York
BUFFALO, N.Y. (April 26, 2024) – As part of a program that identifies and honors the best places of employment throughout the state, Independent Health and its family of companies were recently recognized as one of the “Best Companies to Work for in New York” in each of their respective categories.
Independent Health ranked 5th amongst the large-group category of companies statewide and is one of only five companies in New York to earn this distinction for 17 consecutive years. This is also the fifth year in a row Independent Health placed in the top 10 and is the highest ranking ever achieved in the history of its participation in the program. Read full story.
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Novartis Kesimpta® six-year efficacy data show substantial benefits in recently diagnosed treatment-naïve people with relapsing multiple sclerosis
EAST HANOVER, N.J., April 17, 2024 -- Novartis announced data from the ALITHIOS open-label extension study showing sustained efficacy of first-line, continuous Kesimpta® (ofatumumab) treatment for up to six years in recently diagnosed – defined as starting treatment within three years of initial diagnosis – treatment-naïve people living with relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS).1 These efficacy outcomes included 44% fewer relapses; 96.4% and 82.7% reductions in MRI lesions (Gd+ T1 and neT2), respectively; and 24.5% and 21.6% fewer 3- and 6-month confirmed disability worsening (CDW) events, respectively, versus those who switched to Kesimpta from teriflunomide.1 A separate analysis of the overall ALITHIOS population showed similar efficacy with continuous Kesimpta treatment, which was also well-tolerated with a consistent safety profile up to six years.
"Our analysis of treatment-naïve people who were recently diagnosed with relapsing multiple sclerosis found that first-line use of Kesimpta for up to six years provided long-term benefits, including fewer relapses, profoundly suppressed MRI lesion activity, and fewer disability worsening events," said principal investigator Gabriel Pardo, M.D., Founding Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence at Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. "While measurable improvements were also seen in patients switching to Kesimpta later on, the delay in irreversible disability worsening was not fully realized in the switch group compared to those starting on Kesimpta first, reinforcing the value of introducing the treatment to patients Read full story.
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Merck Announces Positive Data for V116, an Investigational, 21-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Specifically Designed for Adults
RAHWAY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced results from STRIDE-10, a Phase 3 trial evaluating V116, the company’s investigational, adult-specific 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, at the 34th European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID Global) in Barcelona, Spain. The trial evaluated the immunogenicity, tolerability and safety of V116 compared to PPSV23 (pneumococcal vaccine, polyvalent [23-valent]) in adults 50 years of age and older who had not previously received a pneumococcal vaccine.
Key results from the study include:
- V116 elicited immune responses that were noninferior compared to PPSV23 for the 12 serotypes (or strains) common to both vaccines, as measured by serotype-specific opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) geometric mean titers (GMTs) at Day 30.
- Immune responses elicited by V116 were superior for the nine serotypes included in V116 but not PPSV23, as measured by OPA GMT ratios at Day 30, and superior for eight of nine serotypes unique to V116 compared to PPSV23, as measured by the proportions of participants with ≥4-fold rise in immune responses.
- V116 had a safety profile comparable to PPSV23.
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Leesa Allen Highlighted in Fierce Healthcare to Share Insights on New CMS Managed Care Rule
Sellers Dorsey Managing Director, Leesa Allen, was highlighted in a recent Fierce Healthcare article where she shares her insights on the newly released CMS Medicaid Managed Care Rule.
With deep experience and expertise as a former state Medicaid Director, Leesa provided her thoughts around the challenges Medicaid agencies will face in bringing managed care contracts and agency operations into compliance with the new rule. She shares potential solutions and how state legislatures, MCOs, providers, and other strategic partners can make required changes to policies and operations on the ground. Read full story.
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Risant Health completes acquisition of Geisinger
Washington — Risant Health has announced the completion of its acquisition of Geisinger as its first health system dedicated to increasing access to value-based care and coverage. Together, the organizations will create a new value-based care platform that includes best practices, tools, technology and services to support leading community-based health systems.
Risant Health’s goal is to expand and accelerate the adoption of value-based care in diverse, multipayer, multiprovider, community-based health system environments and improve the health of millions of people in communities across the country. Through this first acquisition, Risant Health brings together Kaiser Permanente’s integrated care and coverage expertise and Geisinger’s experience in advancing value-based care in a model that includes various payers and a broad network of providers, while serving some of the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. Read full story.
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CareOregon advances behavioral health in Oregon with Strategic Healthcare Investment for Transformation (SHIFT) initiative
CareOregon is proud to announce the launch of the Strategic Healthcare Investment for Transformation (SHIFT) initiative. This program is a new investment in transforming behavioral health organizations across Oregon so that people with behavioral health needs are truly at the center of care delivery, and care teams can thrive.
Through a collaborative process, SHIFT will build member-driven, outcomes-focused, team-based care models that reduce health inequities, assure timely access to care and prepare providers for advanced value-based payment models.
CareOregon is committed to a vision where members in each of its regions have access to a high-performing behavioral health “home.” Decades of systemic underinvestment in behavioral health at the local, state and federal levels have resulted in significant capacity challenges and health inequities.
“We are entering a new phase of opportunity for transforming behavioral health,” says Jill Archer, CareOregon Vice President of Behavioral Health. “New and significant financial investments are being made to shore up specialty behavioral health services, and we must capitalize on this opportunity to reimagine and transform care Read full story.
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Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island Ranked #1 Medicare-Medicaid Health Plan in the Nation
April 1, 2024 (Smithfield, RI) – Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island (Neighborhood) has been rated the top Medicare-Medicaid Health Plan (MMP) in the nation, with an overall rating of 91 out of 100, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which measures consumer experience in multiple ways, including through beneficiary surveys such as the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS).
CMS evaluated plans with at least 600 enrollees as of July 1 of the preceding calendar year with the most recent data based on 2023 results. Twenty-eight plans reported results to CMS. Each plan’s survey comprises nearly identical questions related to access to care, care coordination, and the quality of care provided. The questionnaires also included several “member overall” questions that asked individuals to rate their plan based on a 0 to 10 scale, 0 being the lowest and 10 the highest, for the following criteria: rating of health plan, rating of health care quality and rating of drug plan.
“Neighborhood is proud to receive this ranking as the top health plan for MMP in the nation. The high rating we received reflects the tireless efforts of our employees and the healthcare professionals we work in partnership to provide the highest-quality care for our members,” said Peter Marino, President and CEO. Read full story.
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NCQA Launches Guides to Address Health-Related Social Needs Through Partnership Promotion
WASHINGTON, DC—April 4, 2024— The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) announced the launch of two resources to navigate and form cross-sector partnerships to address health-related social needs, A Reference Guide for Community-Based Organizations Collaborating with Health Care Organizations, for community-based organizations (CBOs) to establish or maintain partnerships with health care organizations, and a Toolkit for Health Care Organizations Collaborating With Community-Based Organizations, to help health care organizations (HCOs) develop an effective and equitable partnership environment. Both resources stemmed from insights derived from interviews and focus groups, to better understand partnership motivations, perceived benefits, and strategies. The resources were supported by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, U.S.A. Inc. Read full story.
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YMCA Locations Across the Country Set Kids Up for Summer Success at Healthy Kids Day
CHICAGO (April 16, 2024) — On Saturday, April 20, YMCA locations across the country took part in the Y’s Healthy Kids Day®, the Y’s nationwide initiative to help build strong, healthy communities. This free, annual event featured a variety of family-friendly activities to encourage healthy kids, healthy families and a healthy start to the summer season.
“YMCAs across the country support families year-round through programs and resources that empower children to reach their full potential,” said Suzanne McCormick, President and CEO of YMCA of the USA. “As summer approaches, Healthy Kids Day serves as an important reminder for families to stay physically and mentally active and to make the most of the opportunities offered by their local Y.”
This year's Healthy Kids Day was sponsored nationally by Peanuts™ as part of a new multi-year partnership to increase summer camp access, innovative conservation programs, and camp leadership development for children across the U.S. and internationally. The partnership is a natural fit for Peanuts, whose outdoors-loving Beagle Scouts (Woodstock and his bird friends) and their leader, Beagle Scout Snoopy, represent fun and adventure in the outdoors. Peanuts is delighted to partner with the Y to inspire kids and families to keep their minds and bodies active throughout the summer months. Read full story
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Vitality Achieves Certified Status by HITRUST for Information Security
CHICAGO – April 11, 2024 – Vitality, a global health and wellbeing company specializing in behavior change, announced the Power of Vitality platform has earned certified status by HITRUST for information security.
HITRUST Risk-based, 2-year (r2) Certification demonstrates that the organization’s Power of Vitality platform has met demanding regulatory compliance and industry-defined requirements and is appropriately managing risk. To achieve a HITRUST certification, organizations must undergo and an independent audit by a certified HITRUST Assessor. The HITRUST certification includes applicable federal and state regulations, standards and frameworks and incorporates requirements from both the Health Insurance Portability and Accounting Act (HIPAA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) along with other regulations and industry best practices. This achievement places in an elite group of organizations worldwide that have earned this certification. Read full story.
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