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When Dr. Jaewon Ryu, CEO of Risant Health and former CEO of Geisinger, assesses the U.S. healthcare system, he sees it as overly focused on hospitals. While hospitals are crucial for patient care, Dr. Ryu believes there’s an opportunity to shift healthcare towards early intervention and prevention, addressing health issues before they become severe.
This approach is at the heart of value-based care, a model that aims to prevent and manage health conditions proactively. Risant Health, a nonprofit organization created by Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, is dedicated to expanding and accelerating the adoption of this model.
In early 2024, Geisinger, a century-old health system serving 1.2 million people in Pennsylvania, became part of Risant Health. Geisinger, a member of the AMA Health System Program, has long been committed to innovative healthcare solutions.
This proactive approach involves getting involved earlier in the care process, whether through prevention, primary care, home-based care, or addressing social factors that influence health. The goal is to manage the overall health of a population rather than responding to problems only when they become severe.
The Shift to Value-Based Care
Dr. Ryu explained in a recent “AMA Update” episode that value-based care represents a significant shift in healthcare philosophy. Traditionally, healthcare has been reactive—patients seek help only when something goes wrong. Value-based care, however, seeks to prevent issues before they arise.
This proactive approach involves getting involved earlier in the care process, whether through prevention, primary care, home-based care, or addressing social factors that influence health. The goal is to manage the overall health of a population rather than responding to problems only when they become severe.
Risant Health’s Role in Supporting Geisinger
To drive this transformation, Risant Health has identified nonprofit, community-based health systems with similar missions. Geisinger was the first to join, with the partnership announced in spring 2023 and finalized in April 2024. Following the acquisition, Dr. Ryu transitioned from his role as Geisinger’s CEO to lead Risant Health. Despite the change, Geisinger’s work and mission remain consistent. What has changed is the level of support Geisinger now has. By leveraging Risant Health’s resources, technology, and capital, Geisinger can accelerate its efforts in patient-centered innovation. Future Expansion Plans
Risant Health doesn’t plan to stop with Geisinger. In June 2024, they announced a definitive agreement with Cone Health, a North Carolina-based nonprofit health network, to become the second system under the Risant Health umbrella, pending regulatory approval. Dr. Ryu hopes to bring another three or four health systems into Risant Health by 2028. These systems will continue to operate independently while gaining access to Risant Health’s value-based care platform, industry expertise, and resources. Dr. Ryu emphasizes that this initiative isn’t about rescuing struggling organizations. Instead, it’s about taking strong, mission-driven health systems and helping them reach new heights in delivering value-based care. The goal is to provide these systems with the support they need to accelerate their journey toward a healthcare model that prioritizes prevention and overall population health Reference https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/payment-delivery-models/geisinger-steps-value-based-care-part-risant-healthTrending
