SCAN Health Plan Awarded the 2025 Hearst Health Prize for Innovative Patient Care Solutions
SCAN Named the Winner of the 2025 Hearst Health Prize
In an impressive recognition of innovative healthcare initiatives, SCAN Health has been awarded the coveted 2025 Hearst Health Prize. This annual competition, organized by Hearst Health and the UCLA Center for AI & SMART Health, highlights data-driven programs that significantly make an impact on health outcomes.
On May 28, 2025, at the UCLA Health Data Day Symposium, Chuck Tuchinda, the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Hearst Health, presented the award to SCAN, a distinguished not-for-profit healthcare organization. SCAN is well-known for operating the SCAN Health Plan, which ranks among the largest and fastest-growing Medicare Advantage plans in the United States.
The PATH Platform
SCAN was recognized for its Patients at Their Home (PATH) platform, a groundbreaking initiative that supports primary care clinicians providing services to senior patients across various settings, including their homes, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. The PATH platform integrates a wealth of data, including electronic medical records, claims history, and health risk assessments, to create a comprehensive overview of each patient.
By analyzing this data, PATH assigns a personalized risk score, prioritizing key factors based on geriatric care principles—known as the 4Ms framework—that focus on high-quality care for older adults. This tool offers clinicians a complete view of their patient panel, organized by medical acuity levels, effectively optimizing patient visit scheduling and routing.
Vinay Kulkarni, the Chief Information Officer at SCAN, emphasizes the success of PATH, stating, "Launched in 2023, the PATH platform has quickly become a standard care protocol, utilized by over 65 clinicians serving more than 6,000 patients across SCAN's operations. It has streamlined operations and improved patient outcomes."
Enhancing Home-Based Care
Dr. Gabriel Waterman, SCAN's Vice President of Primary Care, explained the distinct advantages of their model of home-based primary care. He noted the challenges in traditional healthcare settings, where patients often call in to schedule visits. In contrast, SCAN’s model allows clinicians to identify urgent patient needs in real time while managing a larger patient population, thus making informed care decisions efficiently.
"In a senior facility with over 100 patients, PATH enables clinicians to determine who requires immediate attention, ensuring that patients receive timely care," Dr. Waterman added.
Real-Time Patient Care
This innovative approach allows SCAN to achieve a remarkable 7.5% readmission rate, significantly below the national average. This accomplishment not only demonstrates the financial benefits of reduced hospital readmissions but also underscores SCAN's commitment to keeping patients healthy by ensuring they receive appropriate care when needed.
Dr. Anthony Nguyen, CEO of Welcome Health—a medical group providing primary care to older adults—stressed the versatility of the PATH platform. He pointed out that while many healthcare systems employ risk stratification, PATH stands out by allowing clinicians to tailor their views based on various inputs and actionable recommendations, improving treatment decisions for higher-risk patients.
The Future of Data-Driven Healthcare
Tuchinda highlighted the significance of this program, stating, "PATH shows how data-driven strategies can enhance care quality and optimize resources, especially amidst rising service demands and clinician shortages."
Dr. Alex Bui, co-director of the UCLA Center for AI & SMART Health, noted the partnership's aim to recognize impactful data science initiatives that inspire further advancement in healthcare: "We want to showcase effective approaches like PATH, which can transform healthcare outcomes across different areas."
About the Hearst Health Prize
The Hearst Health Prize serves as a platform for showcasing effective data science programs that contribute to health improvements. For those interested in participating, updates on submission opportunities for the next Hearst Health Prize will be available on their official website.
About SCAN Group
SCAN Group, established with a mission to address critical healthcare issues affecting older adults, operates the SCAN Health Plan serving over 300,000 members across multiple states. By focusing on chronic issues and barriers in access to care, SCAN tirelessly works to enhance the lives of its members through innovative services and community initiatives.
In summary, SCAN’s commitment to using data science to elevate patient care standards exemplifies how modern technology can significantly improve healthcare delivery, ensuring that seniors receive the optimal support they deserve.