Blog

It is no trade secret that physicians drive quality and medical spend in the health care industry. Across the nation, health systems, Independent Physician Associations (IPAs) and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are challenged with effectively partnering with their physicians to achieve high quality outcomes and reducing the total cost of care. Those organizations most successful […]

California public hospitals have a unique opportunity to leverage the PRIME program to help build the competencies needed to thrive in a risk-based environment. Public health systems and hospitals that make strategic investments in data analytics, network optimization, care management and quality improvement will be set up for success and long-term sustainability. Overview: The […]

COPE Health Solutions has named Michael Zaccagnino as an executive vice president. In his new role, Mr. Zaccagnino will work with health systems, medical centers, physician organizations, and health plans on strategy development and execution and performance improvement, with a special focus on population health. He also will oversee business development and project delivery for […]

On October 12, 2017, the President halted federal payments for cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) for insurers that subsidized the cost of coverage for certain low-income eligible enrollees. A parallel executive order instructed the Department of Labor (DOL) to study how to relax rules on association health plans, allow short-term health insurance policies with limited benefits, and […]

Last month, COPE Health Solutions and Montefiore Health System brought together health care leaders from across the country to New Orleans to devote two days to discussing population health. This invitation-only event provided an opportunity for an intimate discussion of hot topics, shared experiences, strategy sessions and networking with other industry professionals. Throughout Population Health […]

The Problem: John Peter Smith (JPS) Health Network is a major public health care delivery system in Fort Worth, Texas and is the anchor entity for Region 10’s Regional Healthcare Partnership (RHP), part of Texas’ 1115 Medicaid waiver. The Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) funding pool of the waiver allows providers that participate […]

Background: The period following discharge as a patient transitions from hospital to home can be a vulnerable time for patients, especially those who are at high risk for hospital readmission. Preventable hospital readmissions often stem from a discontinuity in a patient’s care plan due to confusion surrounding discharge instructions, changes to medication regimen, or […]

The initial failed launch of CMS’s HealthCare.gov website is cautionary tale of what can go wrong when leadership teams do not have actionable intelligence delivered from a problem solver’s perspective. Plagued by glitches and performance issues, HealthCare.gov was so unreliable during its debut in October 2013 that the government considered scrapping the entire $300 million […]

  Tom Dougherty, FACHE, Principal, has extensive expertise in risk-based coordinated health care delivery models, health plan network management and administration of hospitals, nursing homes, and home health. COPE Health Solutions draws on Tom’s experience and knowledge for its health system clients that are developing or enhancing their risk-based care and capitation models.  : […]