D.C. Provider Network, Amerigroup DC Take Value-Based Approach to Medicaid

The DC Connected Care Network (DC CCN) is a clinically integrated network that includes seven Washington, D.C.-based community health centers and the DC Primary Care Association (DCPCA). Its new collaboration with Amerigroup DC is the first value-based agreement with a Medicaid managed care provider in the nation’s capital. 

Amerigroup DC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Elevance Health. This three-year collaboration is the first of its kind in the District and is designed to transcend traditional healthcare models, prioritize patient outcomes, and set a new, higher standard for healthcare delivery across the region.

The DC CCN consists of the DCPCA and seven Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs): Bread for the City, Community of Hope, Family Medical Counseling Services, La Clinica del Pueblo, Mary’s Center, Unity Health Care, and Whitman-Walker Health. The network's mission is centered on achieving measurable impact through targeted initiatives designed to decrease low-acuity, non-emergent (LANE) emergency room visits, reduce avoidable hospitalizations, and minimize preventable hospital readmissions.

Under this new agreement, Amerigroup and DC CCN are changing the structure of healthcare payments to be based on the quality and effectiveness of care rather than the volume of services delivered. The agreement includes a commitment to share financial risk, encouraging FQHCs to work collaboratively towards achieving quality measures and improving health outcomes for Medicaid enrollees.

“Our new VBA [value-based agreement] transcends conventional healthcare models by incentivizing what truly matters—the health and well-being of the community. This collaboration is a testament to our unwavering commitment to delivering holistic, quality care to residents across the entire District,” said Maislyn Christie, M.D., M.B.A., medical director of Amerigroup DC, in a statement. 

“Together, we are building a healthier future for Washington, D.C., standing as a beacon of innovation and commitment in the ever-evolving healthcare sector,” said Ruth Pollard, M.B.A., M.S., executive director of the DC Connected Care Network, in a statement.