Iowa Medicaid Signs Agreements with Two Large ACOs

The state of Iowa has signed agreements with two large accountable care organizations to improve health outcomes for thousands of residents on the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan, the state's Medicaid program.

Under the two new agreements, University of Iowa Health Alliance and UnityPoint Health Partners, which are both based in Des Moines, Iowa, will assume financial risk to deliver high-quality outcomes for Iowa Wellness Plan members, according to the news release.

To date, more than 85,000 Iowans have signed up for the Wellness Plan. Of those enrolled, more than 17,000 have a primary care provider affiliated with either University of Iowa Health Alliance or UnityPoint Health Partners.  

"By coordinating care for Wellness Plan members, we are working to ensure that patients get the right care at the right time, with the goal of spending healthcare dollars more wisely and with better outcomes," said Jennifer Vermeer, Iowa Medicaid enterprise director, in the news release.

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