The Value Initiative for IPA Performance
L.A. Care launched the Value Initiative for Independent Practice Association (IPA) Performance (VIIP). This first-of-its-kind initiative ranks IPAs on specific measures, including the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS), member satisfaction, access and availability, utilization and encounters.
The VIIP program was then merged with L.A. Care's Pay-for-Performance (P4P) program to streamline reporting and tie-in annual P4P dollars to IPA performance. Last year, L.A. Care provided more than $12.5 million in VIIP/P4P incentives to encourage the provision of the best possible care to our members.
L.A. Care Direct Network, A Direct Partnership for All of L.A.
L.A. Care first launched the L.A. Care Direct Network, A Direct Partnership for All of L.A. to improve access to care for its Medi-Cal members in the Antelope Valley. The network brought in 136 primary care physicians and specialists and the Antelope Valley Hospital, adding to our existing provider network in that region of more than 70 primary care physicians and 200 specialists.
These providers who directly contract with L.A. Care receive a number of benefits, including streamlined patient care communication, expedited authorization of claims, and training resources. Last year, we expanded the network to South Los Angeles, Long Beach, East Los Angeles and Central Los Angeles, and plan to continue expanding the direct partnership in 2018.
Champions for Health Information Technology
L.A. Care believes health information technology saves lives, improves health outcomes and should be available to all, especially L.A. County's safety net providers. In 2015, the California Department of Health Care Services awarded HITEC-LA, a project of L.A. Care, a contract of up to $10.8 million over three years to provide electronic health record (EHR) technical assistance to L.A. County providers.
As part of this contract, HITEC-LA enrolled 2,165 Medi-Cal health care providers into the California Technical Assistance Program (CTAP), and works with them to use their EHR systems in a meaningful way.
Keeping in Touch with thePULSE
L.A. Care publishes a monthly e-newsletter, thePULSE, for our provider partners. thePULSE features articles about health care, clinical protocols and new provider resources. With over 7,000 thePULSE subscribers, L.A. Care is dedicated to keeping providers informed and up-to-date, especially on legislative and regulatory proposals that may impact patients and clinical practice.