Episode 84: Peter Lee on what alignment really means for large purchasers

Listening In (With Permission): Conversations About Today's Pressing Health Care Topics

Suzanne speaks with Peter Lee, Executive Director of Covered California Health Exchange, to discover how Covered California looks to accelerate positive change in the health care system. Peter Lee and his team at Covered California are preparing the contract language for the next phase of work with the 11 insurance carriers that participate in the Health Exchange. In preparation for the drafting of new contracts, Covered California organized three ways to receive meaningful input: a review of the evidence around value-enhancing strategies, a review of the first 5 years of Covered California, and a survey of what other private employers are asking from their health plan partners. All three of these inputs are defining the next phase of Covered California’s work, ensuring their 2.3M enrollees get high-value care while simultaneously transforming the delivery system for the better. What will the new contracts contain? Areas of focus include shifting resources to advanced primary care, holding ACO’s accountable as integrated delivery systems, and- to echo what other private employers are demanding- improved access and quality in mental health care.