Humana Partners With Community Care, Improves Healthcare

Humana Inc. HUM has recently signed a new value-based agreement with Community Care Physicians (“CCP”). The deal is aimed at providing in-network access for Humana Medicare Advantage (“MA”) members through CCP’s 248 primary care and specialty physicians at its 37 practices across the Capital District.

Moreover, per the value-based agreement, five urgent care facilities of CCP in Delmar, Niskayuna, North Greenbush, Albany and Latham will also serve Humana’s MA members.

The new agreement will enable the physicians to use new tools and have access to better information. Improved and updated technologies, such as data analytics are likely to maintain a smooth network among the physicians that would help them work as a team and deliver coordinated care to each patient.

Continuous access to proactive health screenings and programs focused on preventing illness are likely to help the physicians bring out better health outcomes. People living with chronic conditions are expected to be treated in an improved manner with focus on avoiding unnecessary health complications.

The physicians are also expected to spend more time with the patients covered under Humana MA plans, per the agreement. As each patient will be given enough time of treatment, the consolidated health outcome is expected to improve significantly.

The agreement includes physicians’ reimbursement on the health outcomes of their patients instead of the number of services they provide. This fee-for-service compensation is likely to augment physicans’ responsibility and accountability for their patients’ health.

Humana’s management believes that this new deal will significantly help in expanding its geographical footprint in the Capital District. It will also boost both the company’s common goal of providing individual-focused care and improving the health of Humana Medicare Advantage members.

However, in the last year, Humana’s shares have gained 39.1% underperforming the industry’s rally of 45.2%.

Zacks Rank & Other Stocks to Consider  

Humana presently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Investors interested in this space can consider stocks like Anthem Inc ANTM, Wellcare Health Plans, Inc. WCG and Centene Corp CNC. All the three stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2.

Anthem’s earnings surpassed expectations in three of the last four quarters with an average beat of nearly 8.6%.

Wellcare Health delivered positive surprises in each of the last four quarters with an average beat of 47.4%.

Centene delivered positive surprises in three of the last four quarters with an average beat of 7.7%.

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Humana Inc. (HUM) : Free Stock Analysis Report
 
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