MaineHealth has signed a letter of intent to enter into a long-term partnership with agilon health (NYSE: AGL), a company that empowers physicians to transform community health.

Through the partnership, MaineHealth will work with agilon health to transform its primary care delivery system for its Medicare Advantage patients from a fee-for-service model to a sustainable value-based care model that will improve patient care while working to lower costs to the health system.

"Our partnership with agilon health is a direct reflection of our vision of ‘working together so our communities are the healthiest in America,’” said Andy Mueller, MD, chief executive officer, MaineHealth, in a news release. “Through the partnership with agilon heath, we will be accelerating the transition to a payment model defined by value and investing more deeply in our primary care delivery system. The depth of patient need, especially among our growing senior population, necessitates us to think very differently about what the primary care delivery system in our community needs to look like today and in the future."

Value-based care is an important health care delivery model under which providers are paid based on the health outcomes of their patients and the quality of services delivered versus the quantity, according to MaineHealth. Through agilon health’s partnership model and purpose-built platform, the company has helped 17 of the nation’s best physician groups accelerate at scale their transition to a value-based, Total Care Model that places the primary care physician at the center of delivering patient care. MaineHealth is the first integrated health system to partner with agilon health.

“Through our partnership, agilon health is proud to support MaineHealth’s vision to create the nation’s healthiest communities and to help build a more sustainable model for their Medicare Advantage business,” said Steve Sell, chief executive officer, agilon health. “By helping to establish a new primary care delivery system within MaineHealth’s integrated care ecosystem, we will be able to deliver better outcomes and quality of care for their patients, particularly the most vulnerable.”

MaineHealth and agilon health have begun implementation work and will finalize their agreement in coming months, When the partnership is in place, agilon will support MaineHealth physicians in identifying patient conditions and mapping out care plans, making sure senior patients get the preventive care they need as well as ongoing management of any health concerns. This will allow MaineHealth to more confidently enter into value-based contracts within the Medicare Advantage system that reward providers for keeping patients healthy.

“We are constantly researching better ways to provide care for our patients,” said Aileen Mickey, MD, MHA, president, MaineHealth Medical Group. “With the acceleration in the shift to value-based care across the country, this partnership is a significant milestone in ensuring we are ahead of the curve in the future of primary care delivery, and it advances our mission to provide our senior patients and communities high-quality, affordable care.”

About MaineHealth

MaineHealth is a not-for-profit integrated health system whose vision is, “Working together so our communities are the healthiest in America.” It consists of nine local hospital systems, a comprehensive behavioral healthcare network, diagnostic services, home health agencies, and more than 1,500 employed and independent physicians working together through the MaineHealth Medical Group. With approximately 22,000 employees, MaineHealth provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. It includes Franklin Memorial Hospital/Franklin Community Health Network in Farmington, LincolnHealth in Damariscotta and Boothbay Harbor, Maine Behavioral Healthcare in South Portland, MaineHealth Care at Home in Saco, Maine Medical Center in Portland, Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., Mid Coast-Parkview Health in Brunswick, NorDx in Scarborough, Pen Bay Medical Center and Waldo County General Hospital in Rockport and Belfast, Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford and Sanford, Spring Harbor Hospital in Westbrook and Stephens Memorial Hospital/Western Maine Health Care in Norway. MaineHealth Affiliates include Maine General Health in Augusta and Waterville, New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland and St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Lewiston. It is also a significant stakeholder in the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization in Portland.

About agilon health

agilon health is the trusted partner empowering physicians to transform community health. Through our partnerships and purpose-built platform, agilon is accelerating at scale how physician groups transition to a value-based, Total Care Model. agilon provides the technology, people, capital, and process and access to a peer network that allow physician groups to maintain their independence and devote the right amount of time to their most vulnerable patients. Together, agilon and its physician partners are creating the healthcare system we need – one built on the value of care, not the volume of fees. The result: healthier communities, and empowered doctors. Today, agilon is the trusted partner in 17 diverse communities and is here to help more of our nation’s best physician groups and health systems have a sustained, thriving future. For more information go to www.agilonhealth.com connect with us on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.