Penn's Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics announced the launch of a new research initiative aimed at expanding access to care and improving outcomes for older adults on Monday.
The Sept. 15 announcement stated that the Research Initiative on Improving Primary Care for Older Adults will partner with Humana’s health services brand CenterWell. LDI intends to study how different primary care delivery models, particularly value-based care, affect chronic disease management and overall care quality for seniors.
Penn LDI Executive Director Rachel Werner stated in the announcement that the program will generate "rigorous evidence" focused on "improving access to and delivery of care for older adults."
"This initiative will help shape the future of primary care delivery,” Werner said. “Working with CenterWell on this program will allow Penn LDI to build on our longstanding commitment to improving health care access and equity.”
Mark Neuman, former director of research partnerships at Penn LDI, noted in the press release that the program will emphasize examining how payment and delivery models affect healthcare quality for older adults with “complex needs”.
In addition to hosting a national Research Summit and a virtual seminar series to translate research findings into real-world outcomes, the program also plans to competitively fund two research projects — each lasting up to 15 months — in its first year.
According to LDI’s selection criteria, preference will go to observational studies on value-based payment systems and alternative delivery models, as well as projects exploring ways to strengthen chronic disease management in primary care.
Humana's Chief Medical Officer, Kate Goodrich, stated in the press release that the collaboration with Penn LDI will help “advance and improve the ways we support healthy aging”.
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“We are grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with Penn LDI to expand the research base for senior-focused primary care,” Goodrich said. “Primary care is especially important for older adults who often face complex health challenges and greatly benefit from support and guidance for managing chronic conditions.”
