Signify Health, Ardent Health Services expand partnership into accountable care

Signify Health is expanding its collaboration with Ardent Health Services into accountable care beginning in 2023.

Ardent, which provides healthcare services across 200 sites of care in six states, previously worked with Signify to manage bundled payment programs, but Signify's acquisition of Caravan Health enables it to assist companies with accountable care organization programs as well. Tim Gronniger, chief of value-based care solutions at Signify, told Fierce Healthcare the company has been proactively reaching out to existing clients to see whether ACO models are of interest.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has set a goal to have all people enrolled in traditional Medicare treated through accountable care arrangements with their provider by 2030, so starting now puts providers ahead of the curve, Gronniger said.

"The alignment there was really tight, and it was really where they wanted to go," he said of Ardent.

Through the partnership, Ardent's network of providers in New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas with work alongside independent providers in a collaborative ACO model, with the goals of better managing risk and achieving scale.

Ardent has seen success to date in its value-based care models, including a 26% decrease in its 90-day readmission rate and improved clinical outcomes, said CEO Marty Bonick in the announcement.

"We are excited to expand our partnership with Signify Health to bring our patients proven preventive and care management services that will help drive better health and improve the overall experience for both patients and care teams," Bonick said.

Gronniger said making value-based care models like ACOs work means giving patients a "bear hug" and taking a holistic view of their needs. It begins with thinking about primary care differently, engaging more with preventive services and improving chronic care management.

He said Ardent's existing model, including its relationship with specialists and others in the care continuum, puts it in a strong position to succeed in accountable care.

"The model and the organization is well suited to a multiyear investment in improving patient health and improving patient outcomes," he said.