Would you like to elaborate on that finding?

So let me back up a little bit and explain this full portfolio of research studies.

With this latest study, our Optum Health Outcomes Research Team, in collaboration with APG, America's Physician Groups, has now published a total of five studies, all of which unequivocally establish that when physicians and physician organizations accept responsibility for total cost of care in full risk models, patients experience improved quality and improved efficiency of care.

So to conduct these five studies, we amassed a large data asset that included 17 physician groups that are all members of APG.

Overall, it included over 15,000 primary care physicians, over 5 million patient years of data, and data from 35 different health plans.

So with this large data asset, we were able to ask a variety of questions around the impact of different payment arrangements.

This latest study extended the research by focusing on the population within Medicare and Medicare Advantage that had the highest levels of social vulnerability.

Would you like to elaborate on the physician incentive alignment portions?

He's super nice.

He thinks this revolution that has only really just started and the country just declared its independence, he thinks it's possible to nip this all in the bud with some brotherly love.

Then he says, toodaloo, and sets them free after just two days.

And they come back to Fort Ticonderoga, and they're sort of singing the praises of how they were treated by the British.

It wasn't just strength that helped us defeat the British.

the Revolutionary War or any war, we think about battlefield conflict as being what wins or loses the war.

But in this particular theater, on this particular campaign season, it was the construction project as much as the battle that won the day for the Americans.

And so it was enterprise, it was the ability to recruit and to mobilize and to build that was as important as being able to sail out and engage the British in a conflict.

So, uh, tell our listeners what ultimately was the most significant finding that emerged from this, this latest round of research from you and, and others, um, that joined you.

Certainly.

So the impact of social determinants of health on health outcomes is a critical issue, and multiple studies suggest that this is a major factor driving overall health outcomes.

For example, studies have been done showing marked differences in mortality just in adjacent zip codes, and these differences are largely accounted for by social determinants.

With this latest study, our Optum Health Outcomes research team, in collaboration with APG, America's Physician Groups, uh, has now published a total of five studies, all of which unequivocally establish that when physicians and physician organizations accept responsibility for total cost of care in full risk models, that patients experience both improved quality and efficiency of care.

So to conduct these five studies, we amassed a large dataset that included, uh, seventeen physician groups, all members of APG, uh, over fifteen thousand PCPs, and over five million patient years, uh, coming from thirty-five different health plans.

And this latest study extended this research by focusing on the population within Medicare and Medicare Advantage that had the highest levels of social vulnerability, as you noted, as measured by the SVI.

So, uh, can I ask you to step back for a minute and reflect across your entire body of work? What do you think is the clearest message the industry should take away from, from all of this research that you've done?

So can I ask you to step back for a minute and reflect across your entire body of work What do you think is the clearest message the industry should take away from all of this research that you've done?

I think the defining message is that when physicians and physician organizations take accountability for the total cost of care, patient outcomes and total cost of care both improve.

CMS and CMMI appreciate this, and that's exactly where they're going with advanced track MSSP and the new ACO lead model.

And once you understand this, you then need to ask, why are the outcomes better? And I believe that there are three main components to the model's success.

First, and problematically, traditional Medicare pays exactly the same for high-value care and low-value care.

And we won't be successful in expunging low-value care from our health care system until we stop paying for it.

Fully accountable care models are disincentive from providing low-value care.

And so as we see the industry continue to move toward greater accountability for outcomes and total cost of care, Your final thoughts for us and for the healthcare leaders listening in about how they should be applying your findings to the future of care delivery for patients and members all across the country.