Navigating the Future of Health Care: Key Insights from the OPEN MINDS Performance Management Institute

The health care landscape is evolving at a rapid pace. Payers and providers alike are moving away from fee-for-service models towards value-based care arrangements focused on outcomes and the overall wellness of patients. Last month, OPEN MINDS hosted their Performance Management Institute, bringing together executives from across the health care spectrum to discuss strategies for building successful partnerships in this new paradigm, integrating care and leveraging new models to improve outcomes.  

Building value-based payer partnerships 

A major theme throughout the event focused on understanding health plan priorities and developing targeted solutions to meet their needs. In a joint session, the speakers emphasized the importance of understanding health plans’ priorities and highlighted the significance of bringing solutions to problems, especially in the context of value-based reimbursement (VBR) to payers.  

The shift from fee-for-service to preferred fee-for-service is considered a strategic move towards demonstrating outcomes on the path to VBR adoption. Creating capability decks that quantify key performance indicators, measure outcomes and bring solutions to meet payer needs are vital steps to better collaborating with payers and provider networks. 

“By understanding payer priorities, quantifying the value offered and enabling integrated care, providers can strike the right chord to build successful partnerships in this new era.”

Tim McIntyre – Director, Provider Enablement

Bridging the behavioral and physical health gap 

Integration of behavioral and physical health was also a prominent topic. One session, featuring Shar Najafi-Piper (CEO, COPA), Gagandeep Singh (Chief Medical Officer, Mercy Care), Blythe FitzHarris (Chief Clinical Officer, Mercy Care), and Christy Dye and Deanne Cornette from OPEN MINDS, centered around whole-person care models for improved outcomes. The discussion underscored the importance of addressing social determinants of health (SDOH), particularly housing and employment, to facilitate effective integration of care for complex populations.  

Payer insights and trends in 2024 

Payers highlighted several priorities for 2024 and beyond. Speakers during the event discussed a goal of increasing the number of providers using validated assessments to better enable measurement-based care. Lucet’s Navigate & Connect solution is designed to support provider networks and the adoption of measurement-based care with easy-to-use progress dashboards and tracking, incorporating Lucet’s Behavioral Health Index (BHI®). This clinically validated index covers subjective well-being and functioning, providing a holistic view of therapeutic progress. 

Supporting provider networks with technology solutions 

The OPEN MINDS Performance Management Institute yielded valuable insights into building successful partnerships between providers and payers by aligning goals, quantifying value and enabling new models of integrated, outcomes-focused care. Payers are looking for provider partners that can enable their strategic vision through creative solutions with a focus on outcomes and performance. By understanding payer priorities, quantifying the value offered and enabling integrated care, providers can strike the right chord to build successful partnerships in this new era. 

Tim McIntyre is director of provider enablement at Lucet, the Behavioral Health Optimization Company.