Payers

Aetna and Oak Street Health want to help Medicare patients

Through a new partnership, Oak Street Health, a Chicago-based startup, will be able to see Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO and HMO patients in Illinois.

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Primary care for Medicare patients shouldn’t be so difficult … right?

That’s what Aetna and Oak Street Health think. The two are teaming up to improve care for said patient population in Illinois.

Through their partnership, Chicago-based Oak Street will be able to see Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO and HMO patients. Currently, the agreement only applies to those living in Illinois.

Founded in 2012 by three former members of the healthcare practice at The Boston Consulting Group, Oak Street operates 24 primary care clinics throughout Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. Thirteen of them are in Illinois.

The company’s model of care centers specifically around the Medicare population, typically in low-income neighborhoods. By taking a value-based approach and focusing on preventive care, it keeps patients healthier and hospitalization rates lower.

Additionally, Oak Street’s approach involves looking at the whole patient — not just his or her particular malady. The startup also has community centers, remote monitoring services and regular events for patients, such as computer classes, bingo and trivia. There’s even a van service for patients who can’t make it to a facility by themselves.

In a statement, Oak Street co-founder and CEO Mike Pykosz commented on the new partnership with Aetna. “Oak Street is rebuilding healthcare as it should be, and collaborating with Aetna helps us further our mission of providing measurably better health to communities,” he said. “We are excited to deepen our relationship with Aetna and together help improve healthcare for adults on Medicare.”

Kristin Myers, president of the Great Lakes market for Aetna, also expressed excitement over the new prospect. “By working together with Oak Street Health, we will be able to collectively help deliver improved outcomes and a superior experience to members by providing value-based care in their local communities and thinking holistically about all factors that impact health and well-being,” she said in a statement.

Photo: Minerva Studio, Getty Images

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