NCI’s second value-based contracting entity is its Independent Practice Association (IPA), called the North Country IPA. This program uses the “messenger model,” in which participants can jointly contract with one or more payers, such as Managed Medicaid, Managed Medicare, or commercial insurers.

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Participants in the North Country IPA include hospitals, a Federally-Qualified Health Center, behavioral health providers, social care providers, and independent primary care providers across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.

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Much like with the ACO, the IPA pursues value-based contracts that require partners to collaboratively meet specified cost and quality benchmarks for their assigned patient population. The IPA supported partners in reaching the DSRIP and NYS VBP Roadmap goal to have 80-90% of Medicaid Managed Care payments to providers using at least Level 1 value-based payment methodologies by March 31, 2020.

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The IPA currently contracts with the region’s two largest Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) — United Healthcare and Fidelis Care — for total cost of care arrangements, in which the IPA partners assume responsibility for the outcomes and costs of their members. Additional opportunities with Managed Medicare and commercial payers are also being pursued for value-based contracting.

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For more information about becoming a member of the North Country IPA, please reach out to Erika Flint, Director, or Joanna Loomis, Deputy Director, to learn more.