Chicago-based Valence Health, a provider of value-based care, has expanded its pediatric services to include specialized services for provider-run programs that serve children with medical complexities, and appointed its first senior vice president of pediatrics.
Here are 10 things to know about the expansion and appointment.
1. Mary Dale Peterson, MD, CEO of Driscoll Children's Health Plan, said in a news release that adding STAR Kids to Driscoll Health Plan will bring thousands of new children into the health plan and create at least 260 new jobs. Those jobs include 200 for registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses and social workers along with the new call center professional at Valence Health.
2. Valence said the expansion of services will help Driscoll Health Plan administer care and insurance for children with medical complexities through the State of Texas Access Reform Kids program. STAR Kids will serve children and young people through age 20 who qualify for Medicaid based on a disability and have complex health conditions including multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, blindness and serious, multi-faceted health conditions.
While Valence Health is expanding pediatric services, it also has appointed Timothy Johnson, DO, as senior vice president of pediatrics.
3. In his role, Dr. Johnson will lead the company's overall pediatric efforts and spearhead the expansion into services to support children with medical complexity initiatives around the U.S.
4. Dr. Johnson has nearly two decades of value-based care knowledge and insights, specifically in the pediatric market, according to Valence Health CEO R. Andrew Eckert.
5. Previously, Mr. Johnson was medical director for Kansas City, Mo.-based Children's Mercy Pediatric Care Network. He also has worked alongside the National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality, the Children's Hospital Association and eight other children's hospitals to develop a new program called CARE for Children with Medical Complexity.
6. Prior to joining CMPCN, Dr. Johnson was the associate chief medical information officer and a practicing pediatric emergency medicine physician with Children's Mercy Hospitals & Clinics in Kansas City, Mo.
7. Dr. Johnson is active in informatics nationally on the executive committee of the AAP Council on Clinical Information Technology.
8. He received his medical degree from University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine and is board certified in general pediatrics, pediatric emergency medicine and clinical informatics.
9. Dr. Johnson earned a master's degree in medical management from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
10. He continues to practice pediatric emergency medicine at CMH and is an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Missouri Kansas City.