The Department of Health and Human Services (@HHSGov) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (@CMSGov) announced that Brad Smith will serve as Director of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation at CMS and Senior Advisor to Secretary Azar for Value-Based Transformation.
Smith most recently served as the Chief Operating Officer of Anthem’s Diversified Business Group and was previously co-founder and CEO of Aspire Health, a healthcare company focused on providing home-based palliative care services to patients facing serious illnesses.
“Brad will help HHS and CMS continue and accelerate the value-based transformation work that we have begun under President Trump,” said Secretary Azar. “Delivering better value in healthcare is a key piece of how we’re executing on President Trump’s healthcare vision. Paying for outcomes rather than procedures through CMMI models is an important tool for the value-based transformation of healthcare that President Trump has prioritized. Brad has impressive experience with innovative care delivery and paying for value, and he will help expand Administrator Verma’s and CMS’s efforts to ensure Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries are getting better care, and better health, at a lower cost.”
“Brad’s experience thinking outside-the-box to improve healthcare as a successful entrepreneur, along with his stellar academic and policy background, have prepared him well to lead CMMI and bring innovative solutions to our healthcare system’s most pressing challenges,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “I am excited that we have selected Brad to join the ranks of CMS and help us build on the important work the Trump Administration has undertaken to transform our healthcare system to deliver better value to patients.”
Statement from Donald H. Crane, President and CEO, America’s Physician Groups Brad Smith Selected as Director of CMMI
America’s Physician Groups (@AmerPhysGrps) released the following statement on the selection of Brad Smith as Director of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Mr. Smith will also serve as Senior Advisor to Health and Human Services Department Secretary Alex Azar for Value-Based Transformation.
“America’s Physician Groups and the over 300 medical groups and independent practice associations we represent applaud the selection of Brad Smith as CMMI Director. Brad understands the important role value-based care plays in helping to deliver the high quality, efficient, and coordinated care all Americans deserve.
“For too long, our health system has incentivized clinicians based on the volume of services provided while failing to consider cost or patient outcomes. That is why APG members are taking the lead in adopting alternative payment methodologies that put patient outcomes first and reimburse clinicians based on quality and efficiency rather than ‘numbers served.’
“We also applaud CMMI for the introduction of the two voluntary Direct Contracting options last year. We will continue to provide extensive and ongoing support in the form of tools and education to assist providers who are looking to participate in these innovative risk-based payment models.
“Brad Smith is a true visionary who has demonstrated a commitment to improving the health of all Americans. We look forward to working with him to accelerate the volume-to-value movement.”
About America’s Physician Groups
America’s Physician Groups is the nation’s leading professional association for accountable physician groups, composed of over 300 medical groups and independent practice associations (IPAs). America’s Physician Groups’ members operate under a capitated, coordinated care model that is the essence of the nation’s health reform movement from volume to value. Annual Conference 2020 will be held May 28 – 30, 2020 in San Diego, CA.