This article is sponsored by Provider Partners Connect Care. In this Voices interview, Skilled Nursing News speaks with Keith Persinger, CEO of Provider Partners Connect Care, about how providers can navigate the evolving skilled nursing payment landscape and capitalize on value-based care. Persinger also explains how Provider Partners Connect Care’s High-Needs ACO REACH program helps long-term care operators and physicians enhance care, reduce hospitalizations, and share in financial rewards—without added risk or complexity.
Skilled Nursing News: Share a bit about your background and what led you to focus on value-based care in long-term care.
Keith Persinger: I’ve spent my career in healthcare, and about five years ago, I shifted from hospital administration to long-term care. I saw a chance to support one of the most vulnerable populations, as long-term care has historically been overlooked in value-based models, but things are changing.
We’ve had I-SNPs (Institutional Special Needs Plans) for years, but now programs like MSSP (Medicare Shared Savings Program) and High-Needs REACH are opening more doors. These models have the potential to improve care and reduce costs, and we’re excited to contribute to that solution nationwide.
How does the High-Needs ACO REACH program improve outcomes and reduce costs?
Medicare wants all beneficiaries in managed or value-based care. We see it as an opportunity to improve care while reducing total Medicare spend. But to do that, you need real care management, not just financial risk.
We use a two-part strategy. First, we monitor EMRs for what we call “interventional moments”—clinical patterns that, if addressed early, can prevent hospitalizations. Second, we pair that with a remote RN care coordinator who understands long-term care and can support facility staff and PCPs. That combination improves timeliness and outcomes while lightening the burden on care teams simultaneously.
Staffing remains a challenge in long-term care, and our remote RN helps fill the gaps by focusing on high-needs patients and making sure those interventional moments don’t go unnoticed.
What makes your approach different from other High-Needs ACOs?
Many of the 14 approved High-Needs ACOs started as home-based primary care providers. They saw REACH as a natural extension of their work. We saw it as a complement to the I-SNP model and a way to scale nationally.
What sets us apart is our approach to PCP relationships. We don’t replace existing providers, we partner with them. We work alongside facility staff and the existing PCP to implement our care management model. We’re also supported by our remote RN and EMR monitoring platform, which gives us a unique edge.
High-Needs REACH targets patients with complex health needs. It’s distinct from Standard REACH, which covers any Medicare beneficiary. Not all LTC residents qualify, but the High-Needs program lets us focus on meaningful interventions with clear rules and expectations.
While MSSP has worked well for some, we believe High-Needs REACH offers the strongest fit for managing this population. And I-SNPs are still a powerful tool for facilities already embracing value-based care. Having multiple models to choose from is a major win for the industry.
Who is the ideal partner for Provider Partners Connect Care, and what does collaboration look like?
Collaboration is key. Our model relies on data from facility EMRs, but we also need clinical partners who can act on that data. The remote RN regularly connects with directors of nursing and PCPs to align on care.
Our program requires two things: a care coordination agreement with the facility, and a contract with the PCP. That “three-legged stool” of RN, facility and PCP builds trust and supports our endgame of better outcomes.
We spend a lot of time educating partners upfront on how the model works, what support we provide and how it drives better care without adding administrative burden. Some come in through the facility side, others through the PCP. Either way, we bring all three together to launch the program.
At first glance, some think it’s business as usual, but our remote RN, real-time monitoring and CMS-sourced claims data, changes the whole dynamic. Our applied analytics and monthly reports help surface actionable insights that improve care.
And we don’t just hand off reports. Each partner gets a dedicated relationship manager to help interpret the data and identify opportunities, because we’re here to support, not complicate.
As CMS pushes value-based care, how should providers prepare?
We’re at a pivotal moment. With recent policy changes and support for reducing regulatory burden, there’s momentum behind programs like High-Needs REACH.
Though it’s currently a CMMI demonstration, early data from 2023 shows millions in savings. That success could extend the program or lead to a permanent model, and it’s becoming more accessible to providers.
Right now, only about 15% of LTC patients are in value-based programs. That leaves over 80% in fee-for-service, which is a massive opportunity in our industry. As awareness grows, the conversation is shifting from “Why value-based care?” to “How do we implement this in our building?”
Some start small, others dive in. Either way, it’s a step toward better care and smarter spending. We encourage facilities and PCPs to ask questions, explore the model and see what fits best for their organization.
What’s your biggest message to LTC providers and physicians?
Let us help you enhance what you’re already doing. Our tools are targeted and non-intrusive. We support your existing workflows and elevate the level of care without piling on more work.
Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Reach out to Provider Partners Connect Care today to learn more: [email protected] or visit www.providerpartnersconnect.com
The Voices Series is a sponsored content program featuring leading executives discussing trends, topics and more shaping their industry in a question-and-answer format. For more information on Voices, please contact [email protected].
