The independent physician network Healthfirst Inc. announced Monday that Amy Cooper will serve as executive director for its commercial shared-savings care programs.
Cooper had been managing the organization’s Medicare shared-savings program for the past year. Shared-savings programs are offerings to provider networks known as accountable care organizations.
If the network can meet certain quality standards for the care of a specified population of patients at lower than an agreed to cost, then the ACO and the commercial or government payer split the savings.
Vermont announced two new shared-savings programs earlier this year; one for Medicaid and one with participation from the state’s two main commercial health insurers.
Healthfirst is managing an accountable care organization for its member physicians. It is not participating in the Medicaid program.
Cooper “facilitated greater collaboration and care coordination within the network, helping to lower hospitalization and readmission rates for the Medicare population,” according to a news release.
She will continue to do so in an expanded capacity now as executive director of both shared-savings programs. Cooper has a background in e-commerce and health care consulting.
Healthfirst is Vermont’s only independent physician’s association, representing 130 physicians working to promote a network of independent practices in the state.
