AllyAlign, Partners Form Curana Health to Expand Value-Based Care in Senior Living

As value-based care continues to expand at a rapid pace within senior living, AllyAlign Health has announced a partnership with two different health care organizations. The partnership forms Curana Health, with the intention of helping skilled nursing and senior living facilities across the U.S.

The three companies, AllyAlign Health, Provider Health Services, and Elite Patient Care, are expecting the bid to encourage growth for the future of value-based health care service models. AllyAlign Health’s goal is to improve service at skilled nursing and senior living providers by launching and running Medicare Advantage plans. Provider Health Services provides nationwide geriatric care while Elite Patient Care gives care and clinical service in 12 states.

Curana Health CEO Mark Price commented on the goal of the company, saying his “perspective is that the value-based care movement is here to stay and it’s going to continue to grow. The overall idea in health care that we should be paying for great outcomes, as opposed to paying for the volume of services delivered, is a concept that makes sense.”

26 states currently hold organizations covered by Curana Health, including over 1,000 senior living and skilled nursing communities across the country. Mark Price wants the senior living side of business to expand for Curana, seeing as skilled nursing facilities make up a majority of the company’s work today.

The organization includes AllyAlign Health as the Medicare Advantage plan operator, Curana Health Medical Group and accountable care organization through Curana Health ACO. More than 400 care staff and clinicians across life plan communities, assisted living, skilled nursing and memory care make up the broader medical group.

The ACO will be accessible for communities working with Curana across the nation, and any participating community will be attributed to the ACO by default if original Medicare members get care from a Curana related physician. This means any client already working with AllyAlign will now gain access to an ACO and a larger clinical group, giving them an expanded value-based toolkit if they choose to use it.

This will help participating communities in many ways by increasing resident health outcomes and satisfaction. It will encourage enhanced payments while growing occupancy and support communities that don’t have enough staff members. Mark Price commented on the community aspect of the program, explaining, “…that’s a key part of what we bring to the table … whether it’s Medicare Advantage, whether it’s an ACO, any other program, let’s go create it together, and let’s make sure that it really works well, and that it’s centered in the way that the community works.” Price has previous experience as market president of Intermountain and also worked to lead companies like ChenMed, Bain & Company and DaVita Medical Group.

Curana Health arrives at a time when Medicare Advantage plans are being seen more often than ever within senior living. AllyAlign is pushing for this trend, specifically designing their service to appeal to senior living residents. In the previous eight years, AllyAlign data has shown a 95% satisfaction rate for clinical service, and a 37% decrease in total hospital admissions for Medicare Advantage ISNP members.

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