To meet the increasing demand from self-insured employers looking to contract with health care provider networks, Vizient, Inc. announced the launch of its Direct to Employer Solutions for health care systems. The solutions include a national high-value network currently comprising six Vizient member health systems, direct-to-employer advisory services and connections with network administrative partners. Vizient members participating in the initial network are BJC HealthCare, Emory Healthcare, Johns Hopkins Medicine, MemorialCare Health System, Northwestern Medicine, and Providence.

Almost half of the American workforce receives health insurance from their employer. Most employers with over 200 employees offer self-funded plans meaning they directly pay the benefit claims. Many employers are increasingly frustrated with the status quo, which often uses a broad PPO network affiliated with a traditional insurance provider. Instead, employers are seeking deeper, direct relationships with providers who are able to offer high-quality, appropriate care that emphasizes high patient engagement and satisfaction, with lower readmission/complication rates and predictable, and competitive pricing.

“Vizient is uniquely positioned to help health systems to enter and succeed in the direct to employer marketplace. We have data-backed insights into cost and quality outcomes, advisory solutions for hospitals entering the market and a contracting strategy that can connect high-value networks, as well as individual health systems, with like-minded administrative partners for direct-to-employer agreements,” said Jeff Hayes, executive director of Direct to Employer Solutions for Vizient.

Initially, each of the six Vizient member health systems participating in the high-value network will offer services in a bundled format through a center of excellence focused on spine, hips, knees, bariatric and cardiovascular procedures. The center of excellence will provide patients with appropriate, high quality care, and a better patient experience, at lower total costs to their employers by eliminating duplication of diagnostic testing and reducing post-surgical complications and readmissions.

“We are excited to launch our first high-value network with these founding members and will be announcing additional participating health systems in the coming weeks. This analytics-enabled network will be able to measure and share key performance indicators for the care being delivered to patients within a unique workforce. As a result, employers can effectively design their health benefit plans to include leading providers who deliver high quality, cost effective care. It is a win for providers and employers as well as patients,” said Hayes.

Learn more about Vizient’s Direct to Employer Solutions here: https://www.vizientinc.com/our-solutions/advisory-solutions/direct-to-employer

About Vizient, Inc.

Vizient, Inc. provides solutions and services that improve the delivery of high-value care by aligning cost, quality and market performance for more than 50% of the nation’s acute care providers, which includes 97% of the nation’s academic medical centers, and more than 20% of ambulatory care providers. Vizient provides expertise, analytics and advisory services, as well as a contract portfolio that represents more than $110 billion in annual purchasing volume, to improve patient outcomes and lower costs. In 2021, Vizient acquired Intalere, which expanded its footprint with ambulatory and rural acute care providers. Vizient has earned a World’s Most Ethical Company designation from the Ethisphere Institute every year since its inception. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Vizient has offices throughout the United States. Learn more at www.vizientinc.com.

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