The final piece of the Evolent package involves providing the new financial management infrastructure that makes sure that that keeping people healthy will be good for providers’ fiscal health. But this is no quickie consult. Williams says that Evolent employees see themselves as partners in executing the strategies they recommend. “We do some consulting,” he notes, “but most of the time we are truly embedded in the company and aligned as operating partners driving their long-term success. Essentially we’re launching a new business with them, so the first thing we need to do is set the strategy and operational business plan.”
And the partners have been coming in droves. The Arlington, Va.-based company has signed up a number of major healthcare providers, including MedStar, the largest healthcare provider in Maryland and Washington, D.C.; Indiana University Health in Indianapolis; Premier Health in southwest Ohio; and Piedmont WellStar HealthPlans in Georgia. All told, Evolent now employs more than 800 people to build, service and manage its relationships. Providers pay a flat fee for the implementation of the Evolent model, then the company earns a per-patient, per-month fee.
Ultimately, though, Williams seems most excited about what Evolent’s care model is doing for the basic relationship between doctors and their patients. “There is a win-win here,” he says. “We believe it’s possible to reduce costs while improving quality, and in the process create a much better experience for both the patient and the physician. We couldn’t be more excited about delivering on our vision.”