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Meridian Health Plan's $15 Million Incentive for Providers

On September 23, 2025, Meridian Health Plan of Illinois, a prominent managed care organization, announced an impressive allocation of $15 million in incentives for healthcare providers. This initiative aims to improve health outcomes for over 340,000 Medicaid members statewide. Meridian is focusing on promoting value-based care partnerships that not only enhance patient care but also significantly reduce emergency room visits, achieving a notable 21% decrease.

Commitment to Quality Care

Cristal Gary, the Plan President and CEO of Meridian, expressed a strong commitment to enhancing healthcare access and quality for its members. “At Meridian, we're committed to partnering with our providers to make healthcare more convenient, accessible, and impactful for our members,” she stated. The organization's model of value-based care is designed to empower providers with essential tools, data, and support to deliver proactive, member-centered care.

Meridian's model not only fosters improved health delivery but is also pivotal in combating health disparities within communities. The $15 million incentives reflect Meridian's extensive commitment to improving healthcare access and outcomes across Illinois, both today and in the future.

Collaboration with Healthcare Partners

Binoy Bhansali, CEO of Diverge Health, one of the participating providers, emphasized that collaborative partnerships are fundamental to offering exceptional patient care. He noted that, “By working together with Meridian and primary care providers in a value-based model, we can deliver the highest quality care to underserved patients, ultimately strengthening communities from within.”

Meridian evaluated its value-based care model's performance for 2024 by examining data across 729 providers and 39 performance measures. The results showed impressive outcomes, with value-based care (VBC) participating providers achieving compliance rates up to 34% higher than those not involved in such arrangements. The data indicated a substantial reduction in emergency visits and inpatient hospitalizations, showcasing the effectiveness of Meridian's approach to proactive health management.

Driving Health Improvements Through Data

Among the highlighted performance measures, key areas of improvement included:

• - Child and Adolescent Well Visits: Significant 34% increase in compliance
• - Adult Preventive Care Visits: 32% higher compliance rates
• - Cervical Cancer Screenings: 21% increase
• - Breast Cancer Screenings: 20% higher compliance
• - Kidney Health Monitoring (Diabetic Patients): 17% increase in compliance
• - Blood Pressure Control: 11% increase

These improvements further validate the effectiveness of the value-based care model in enhancing not only access but also the quality of necessary preventive care.

Yasin Patel, President and CEO of MHN ACO, echoed similar sentiments, stating, “Strong, collaborative partnerships between healthcare providers and payors are essential to building a more effective, equitable, and outcomes-driven healthcare system.” He underscored the importance of aligning operational strategies and financial incentives to foster personalized, coordinated, and informed patient care.

Collaborating with High-Performing Providers

Meridian Health Plan continues to foster relationships with high-performing healthcare providers to enhance care quality and broaden access for its members. Niraj Shah, a Primary Care co-director, noted that participating in value-based care promotes patient engagement and education regarding their health, aligning interests of patients, providers, and payors to enhance overall healthcare experiences.

Meridian's network of value-based care partners includes several prominent organizations, such as Access Community Health Network, Advocate Health Care, and UnityPoint Health, among others. The organization aims to expand its value-based care models in 2026, incorporating shared savings or downside risk strategies for providers.

About Meridian Health Plan

Meridian Health Plan of Illinois is a leading healthcare enterprise focused on government-sponsored managed care solutions for families, children, seniors, and individuals with complex medical needs. With its various health plan offerings and a commitment to serving vulnerable populations, Meridian aims to connect its members with comprehensive healthcare resources focused on lifelong health and wellness. As a subsidiary of Centene Corporation, Meridian continues to innovate toward improved healthcare services statewide. For more information about Meridian, visit ILmeridian.com.