Mercy and Wellvana Forge 20-Year Partnership to Expand Value-Based Care

Mercy, a major nonprofit health system, and Wellvana, a value-based care enablement company, have announced a 20-year affiliation aimed at bolstering the adoption of value-based care models among independent practitioners. This strategic partnership is set to create one of the nation's largest clinically integrated networks, offering a range of benefits for healthcare providers and patients alike.

Empowering Independent Providers

The collaboration will provide Mercy's nonemployed primary care physicians and advanced practice providers with the opportunity to participate in value-based care arrangements. Through this initiative, independent clinicians will gain access to Wellvana's suite of electronic health record-integrated practice tools and receive support from clinical and operational care teams.

"We believe the future of health care belongs to models that reward positive health outcomes through partnership," said Steve Mackin, Mercy president and CEO. "By teaming up with Wellvana, we're giving even more physicians the tools and support they need to provide more proactive, coordinated care, helping to expand access to the kind of care that aims to keep patients healthy and out of the hospital."

Financial Incentives and Administrative Relief

Participating providers stand to benefit from financial incentives tied to improved patient outcomes within Mercy's service area. These value-based arrangements will span across Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and commercial plans. Additionally, the partnership aims to alleviate administrative burdens for healthcare practitioners, allowing them to focus more on patient care.

Susan Diamond, Wellvana CEO, emphasized the importance of this collaboration: "Mercy has built one of the nation's most respected systems, and together we're creating sustainable paths for independent providers to see the rewards of accountable care. The more we grow participation in value-based care, the more patients and communities benefit from a better, more connected health experience."

Leveraging Technology and Population Health Infrastructure

The partnership will harness Mercy's robust population health infrastructure to support the value-based care program. This integration is expected to provide data-driven insights to participating practitioners, enhancing their ability to deliver coordinated and effective patient care.

Mercy, with its extensive network of 55 hospitals and over 1,000 physician practice locations and outpatient facilities, brings significant resources to the table. The health system's annual operating revenue exceeds $10 billion, underscoring the potential impact of this collaboration on the healthcare landscape.

Wellvana, founded in 2019, has already established similar arrangements with other health systems across 40 states, serving over 800,000 patients. The company reports that its accountable care organization participants generated more than $337 million in savings across 2024, with its flagship ACO outperforming all other Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) ACOs in terms of savings.

As the partnership unfolds, Mercy and Wellvana plan to organize information and networking events for independent providers in Mercy's markets who are interested in participating in this innovative value-based care initiative.