In today’s crowded landscape, payers and employers have every reason to search for care solutions that will create meaningful advantages and outcomes for everyone involved.

Given that Vera Whole Health, a leader in advanced primary care (APC), and Castlight are now combined under apree health, we wanted to share how Vera’s APC model gives payers control over their supply chain, offers cost-effective solutions, and helps employers end the spiral of increasing costs while improving the health and satisfaction of their employees.

5 Competitive Advantages of APC

1. Control Over Total Cost of Care

Payers who harness APC take control of primary care delivery and offer a solution built to serve the needs of each member panel. Employers who offer APC to their employees likewise discover that it is the proven solution to stop ever-growing healthcare costs.

The reason? APC is equipped to provide 80% to 90% of all patient care, allowing payers and employers to improve health outcomes across their populations and drive down total cost of care.

2. Increased Member Access

According to the most recent report by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), it’s estimated that the United States could experience shortages of primary care physicians between 17,800 and 48,000 by the year 2034.

Primary care shortages keep people away from the care they need—but there’s a solution. When payers embed dedicated primary care access in their health plans (at little to no cost to members) and employers offer it to employees, APC helps remove the physical, financial, and cultural barriers shown to depress primary care utilization.

3. Excellent member experience

APC equips payers and employers with stand-out solutions, including:

• Longer appointment times build patient-provider trust and address underlying problems
• Integrated care coordination harnesses high-value, low-cost specialty networks—particularly valuable for Medicare Advantage populations managing multiple chronic conditions
• Professional Vera Whole Health coaches help patients move through the five stages of behavior change to improve their lifestyles and meet health goals
• Empathetic listening affirms patients as they achieve positive outcomes and become more invested in their health

4. Differentiation

Payers stand to rise above their competition when they expand into value-based care models like APC, differentiating by adding value for their members and increasing satisfaction. APC can also provide an advantage for employers interested in standing out so they can attract and retain top talent. In an environment where hiring is challenging and extremely competitive, rich benefits play an important role.

5. Improved Quality

APC allows realigned incentives between payers, providers, and patients so that everyone involved can prioritize health outcomes over reimbursement. It’s a proven approach that increases and sustains quality of care and member satisfaction—which in turn yields improved HEDIS and Star Ratings for payers. 

It also means that, when employers offer APC to employees, they’re offering them access to care that actually prioritizes health outcomes. And that’s just the beginning of the many quality improvements APC creates.

Delivering Whole-Person Care  

The Vera APC model delivers whole person care across all member populations. Our expanding network, and the fact that we’re now part of apree health, means even greater access to best-in-class APC. It’s a surefire solution for controlling the total cost of care, improving access, and invigorating member enthusiasm. When payers and employers grab hold of APC, they’re sure to rise above the competition.

This post was originally published on Vera Whole Health‘s blog. Vera Whole Health and Castlight Health are now part of apree health.