Aledade and Humana have expanded their value-based care partnership to support rural health clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), they announced on Thursday. 

Bethesda, Maryland-based Aledade helps independent practices, health centers and clinics engage in value-based care through data insights, policy expertise and contracting support. In 2023, it launched a 10-year partnership with Humana that allows Humana’s Medicare Advantage members to receive primary care from Aledade physicians using value-based arrangements.

The expanded partnership will help Aledade’s FQHC and rural health clinic partners share savings in Medicare Advantage with Humana, according to the announcement. Aledade and Humana will provide upfront resources and support to help them succeed in value-based care. The expansion will support FQHCs and rural health clinics in 26 states.

“This is the latest step in our long-standing collaboration with Humana to respond to the unique and evolving needs of our health center partners,” said Dr. Farzad Mostashari, Aledade’s co-founder and CEO, in an announcement. “It recognizes the challenges that health centers must address to provide high quality, preventive care to high needs populations and demonstrates our commitment to addressing health care disparities. 

“We are deeply grateful to Humana for their efforts to allow our health center partners to be even more successful in value-based care and meet the needs of the patients and communities they tirelessly serve,” he continued.

Humana’s insurance president, George Renaudin, added that the companies have a shared mission in expanding value-based care.

“We are pleased to strengthen our relationship with Aledade, who shares a strong commitment to value-based care and its proven positive impact on health outcomes,” Renaudin said in a statement. “This expanded agreement is an important development as it allows us to improve access for our members to quality health care in areas, such as rural communities, throughout the nation where there have historically been a shortage of hospitals and clinics.”

Aledade works with more than 300 health centers across the country, as well as primary care organizations “of all sizes, working across diverse rural, suburban and urban care settings,” the announcement stated. About two-thirds of these health centers are in health professional shortage areas.

Aledade isn’t the only company helping clinics and health centers engage in value-based care. Others include Astrana Health and Agilon Health.

Photo: mikdam, Getty Images