The group intends to scalefinancially sustainable solutions to the problems faced by theunderserved, and to do so as quickly as possible. (Photo:Shutterstock)

Seventeen health systems, encompassing 280 hospitals—5 percentof the hospitals in the country—have come together to figure outfinancially sustainable solutions to the problem of how toimprove health care for underserved people and their families.

According to Avia Health Innovation, the MedicaidTransformation Project is “a national effort to transform healthcare and related social needs for the nearly 75 millionAmericans who rely on Medicaid.”

“The current health care system fails the people who need itmost,” says co-founder Andy Slavitt, former ActingAdministrator of CMS and Founder and General Partner at Town HallVentures. “The Medicaid Transformation Project will be part of adecade-long journey leading some of the best health systems in thecountry. Our work will be to deepen and refine the best innovationsand then implement them at an accelerated pace at providers acrossthe country.”

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The group's two-year mission is for member health systems to“implement innovative solutions that address challenges likebehavioral health and substance use disorder … [to] create long-termsystemic impact over the next 10 years with the goal of improvingthe health of 75 million Americans.”

The alliance plans to tackle several specific challenges facedby vulnerable populations nationwide: behavioral health, women andinfant care, substance use disorder and avoidable emergency department visits.

Five health systems are at the vanguard of the effort: AdvocateAurora Health in Chicago and Wisconsin, Baylor Scott & WhiteHealth in Dallas; Dignity Health in San Francisco; Geisinger inDanville, Pa.; and Providence St. Joseph Health in Renton,Washington. They, along with the other 12, cover 21 states withmore than 53,000 hospital beds.

The press release announcing the formation characterizing thecurrent U.S. health care system as unsustainable, pointing outthat:

• 20 percent of Americans are covered by Medicaid;
• 50 percent of U.S. births are financed by Medicaid;
• Medicaid is the country's No. 1 payer for behavioral healthservices; and
• 33 cents of every dollar for a physician's services are paid byMedicare/Medicaid.

The group intends to scale financially sustainable solutions tothe problems faced by the underserved, and to do so as quickly aspossible rather than to “discuss” the problems faced bypatients.

“We believe tomorrow's solutions for today's health disparitieswill be rooted in digital solutions and technologies that are easyto implement and scale.” Nick Turkal, M.D., president and CEO ofAdvocate Aurora Health says in the press release. “Thisunique opportunity brings together like-minded systems who arecommitted to delivering greater value to those who deliver,receive, and pay for health care.”