Viewing Health Through a Broader Lens
Population Health Management means seeing each person as a whole, not only focused on clinical care, but also understanding the environments and circumstances that shape their health and wellbeing like where they live, learn, work and connect with their communities, such as:
Addressing Community Health
From collaborating with community organizations and local governments to providing training and health care interventions, the CHA Department of Community Health plays a vital role in CHA’s mission and in population health management.
Addressing Health Equity
CHA’s vision for Equity and Excellence for Everyone, Every Time is not only represented in our commitment, but is recognized nationally in rankings as well as accreditation. Learn more about our work.
Addressing Health-Related Social Needs
Population Health Management includes screening for social determinants of health (food, housing, medications, medical bills, violence) and providing follow-up support as well as resource guides for each community. CHA also provides CHA Connect, a resource to guide patients and community members in finding assistance in free or below cost social services.
Organizing for Population Health Management: Accountable Care
An important consideration for population health management is organizing for value-based care. Value-based care is a healthcare delivery model where providers are paid based on patient health outcomes rather than the volume of services provided. It replaces the traditional "fee-for-service" approach by incentivizing preventive care, care coordination, and effective chronic disease management to improve quality and reduce overall costs. This is usually best organized within an accountable care organization.
What is an Accountable Care Organization?
An accountable care organization (ACO) is a partnership of primary care providers, specialists, hospitals and other providers to give patients all the services they need. Together, these groups strive to meet certain goals such as:
- Improving patient experience (satisfaction, access to health services)
- Improving outcomes for all patients
- Reducing healthcare cost
Certification as an ACO provides CHA the structure to manage patients under value-based care contracts. CHA has been certified as an ACO by the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission since 2017. The certification process was a significant milestone, making Massachusetts the first state to implement state-wide, all-payer standards for care delivery.
In addition to commercial insurance contracts through a partnership with Beth Israel Lahey Health Performance network (BILHPN), CHA participates in two formal ACO programs: Medicare Shared Savings Program and the MassHealth ACO.
Medicare Shared Savings Program
Through our relationship with BILHPN, CHA has joined the Medicare Shared Savings Program with other BILHPN practices.
MassHealth ACO
CHA has partnered with Tufts Health Public Plans to form the MassHealth insurance plan, Tufts Health Together with CHA. Learn more about this plan.
CHA Population Health Contacts
Name and Location:
Cambridge Public Health Commission D/B/A Cambridge Health Alliance
1493 Cambridge Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
Primary Contact
Wilfred S. McCalla. Jr.
Senior Director, Payer & Population Health Strategies
Email: wmccalla@challiance.org
Composition of ACO
Cambridge Public Health Commission d/b/a Cambridge Health Alliance is the sole participant in the Cambridge Health Alliance Accountable Care Organization.
ACO Participants
CHA includes CHA Cambridge Hospital, CHA Everett Hospital, CHA Somerville Campus, and the Cambridge Health Alliance Physicians Organization and associated care centers.