About OneCare Vermont

OneCare Vermont Accountable Care Organization 501(c)(3) is a joint venture established by The University of Vermont Medical Center Inc. and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

OneCare is your local accountable care organization, led by health care providers.

OneCare is Vermont’s local, 501(c)(3) Accountable Care Organization (ACO), partnering with health care providers to transform the state’s health care system. By managing network performance, giving health care providers actionable data and analytics, and providing payments in a structure that incentivizes quality of care and improved population health, OneCare supports participating organizations in their work to deliver excellent health care to Vermonters. Through this partnership, OneCare moves Vermont toward a trusted, equitable health care system where patients and providers work together to achieve optimal health and an exceptional care experience.

Reducing Health Care Spending and
Improving Health Outcomes

In this short video, learn what these two terms mean, why OneCare Vermont — our state’s local Accountable Care Organization — is working toward transforming the way we pay for and deliver care, and the three core business areas that work in tandem toward the mission to improve health outcomes and reduce health care spending

Watch and learn more on our Video Center

OneCare works to improve the health of Vermonters.

What does OneCare do?

For a printable version of what OneCare does, click here to download our ACO 101 informational handout. (PDF).

1. Improves Health Care for Vermonters

Health care providers in OneCare coordinate across organizations and share resources and data. They focus on connecting patients to primary care, coordinating care for patients, and managing chronic illness. The goal is to help Vermonters become healthier — not just care for them when they are sick.

2. Supports Patient Health Care Choices

You, your doctor, and your insurance company work together to ensure you receive the health care you need. Your health benefits and coverage stay the same, and OneCare does not limit health care providers or number of visits.

3. Works to Stabilize Health Care Costs

Health care costs are too high. Vermont is leading an effort to change the way health care is paid for or incentivized: value over volume. OneCare works with insurance companies to reward providers for wellness, not illness. Instead of paying for each test and procedure, OneCare pays doctors a flat amount to care for patients. Over time, these changes should lower health care costs for Vermont.

4. Uses Data to Improve Health

OneCare gives doctors data, resources, and tools to improve patient health. By sharing information and working together, providers can do even more to give the best care to Vermonters.

OneCare’s Core Business Areas

Illustration - OneCare Core Business Area - the Statewide Care Model - showing a doctor taking care of a male patient checking his heart beat with a stethoscope. Next to the patient is a window showing Vermonters in healthy communities engaging in activities promoting healthier lifestyles.

Network Performance Management

OneCare’s network performance management is rooted in the belief that community-based health prevention and primary care are the foundation of Vermont’s health care system. The model works across the spectrum of health: integrating environmental, physical, mental, and social services while leveraging data and analytics and advanced payment models to deliver value to Vermonters.

Illustration - OneCare Core Business Area - Data Analytics. Two data analysts on the left are looking at a large whiteboard covered in infographics and statistics. Next to them is a woman sitting in front of a computer generating detailed analytics.

Data and Analytics

OneCare measures health care cost, quality, and utilization to help providers who participate in OneCare identify which Vermonters may need outreach and which areas of care delivery to improve. These providers can see this data provided by OneCare and use it to implement strategies to improve the health of the Vermonters in their care.

 

Illustration - OneCare Core Business Area - Payment Reform. An accountant is looking at her computer and working with a doctor who is standing in front of a large clipboard with quality check marks on it. On the ground behind them are symbols representing money and payment.

Payment Reform

OneCare contracts with health insurers to move away from the current model that financially rewards providers for ordering more tests and services, to a model that rewards providers for the of quality of care they deliver. By working with OneCare, providers and insurance companies choose to move from volume to value, lowering costs while delivering better health care.

Overall, how will Vermonters benefit from OneCare?

Image Description: A colorful, modern illustration of a large, diverse group of people representing Vermonters. There are many different ages, genders, races, and other demographics represented in the illustration

OneCare helps identify Vermonters whose health may be at risk. Providers can reach out to people who could benefit from care coordination. Providers work together to help patients find resources and services that support their health goals.

Fred’s Story: A Case Study of Care Coordination

The basis of care coordination is providers working together and communicating with each other to better help patients find resources and services that support their health goals. This can result in improved health, reduction of health care costs, and even prevents duplication of expensive health care services and unneeded visits to the emergency department. Here’s a real example of how this worked for a real Vermonter, Fred, who had a long list of complex medical issues. As a result of care coordination, Fred’s health improved. Watch the video to learn more.

How will you personally be affected by OneCare?

1. Connection with Your Doctor

OneCare works with your provider to help you stay healthy, avoid trips to the emergency room, and in some cases, supports your health goals with a care coordination team. Your doctor also focuses on wellness and check-ups to improve your health and to help prevent you from becoming ill.

2. Health in Your Community

Our prevention programs, such as RiseVT, partner with your community to make the healthy choice the easy choice, by working on issues like affordable housing, walkable towns, and access to healthy food.

The Quadruple Aim

An accountable care organization strives to make improvements in these four areas in order to achieve high value health care delivery.

A graphic showing a family, to represent the concept of enhancing the patient experience in an accountable care organization

Enhancing the Patient Experience

A simple icon illustration showing a dollar sign in front of a financial chart. This represents the concept of controlling health care costs in an accountable care organization

Stabilizing Health Care Costs

A graphic showing a healthy heart beat, to represent the concept of healthier Vermonters in an accountable care organization

Improving the Health of Vermonters

A graphic showing a simplified group of doctors and health care providers, to represent the concept of supporting health care providers in an accountable care organization

Supporting Health Care Providers

The 2021 OneCare Community

Vermonters cumulatively covered by:
Medicaid  |  Medicare  |  Commercial  |  Self-Insured

Hospitals

Primary Care Practices

Specialty Care Practices

Federally Qualified Health Centers

Individual Providers

Skilled Nursing Facilities

Home Health Agencies

Designated Agencies for Mental Health & Substance Use

Area Agencies on Aging

Regional Housing Authorities (SASH)

Our Mission

OneCare Vermont, as a statewide population health organization, will enhance the effectiveness of patient- and family-centered care for all Vermonters.

We are dedicated to optimizing the delivery of care in order to improve outcomes and patient experience in support of a sustainable health care system under a predictable rate of growth.

OneCare is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

OneCare aims to improve the health and wellbeing of all Vermonters by connecting providers and communities across Vermont. OneCare is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion because we serve Vermonters and health care providers from all backgrounds throughout our state.

Health access, health equity, and social contributors to health are key aspects of the health care system in Vermont. We are driven to examine our organization’s role in realizing health equity as part of healthcare reform and we are committed to listening, to learning, and to standing together against racism. 

A map of Vermont that shows the boundaries of the health service areas in the state, and the locations - marked with pins - of the hospitals that participate in OneCare.

OneCare’s Dedication To Transparency

OneCare Vermont is committed to make information about the work we do easily available to everyone in a clear, reliable, and easy to understand manner. Learn more on our transparency page.

OneCare has been recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a 501(c)(3) organization operated for non-profit purposes. In October 2020, OneCare applied to the IRS for 501(c)(3) tax status to more accurately reflect our commitment to transparency and value based reform efforts. On April 22, 2021, OneCare received notification that it has been recognized by the Federal Government as a 501(c)(3) organization for its commitment to supporting Vermont’s health care delivery and payment reform efforts.

Learn more about the value of OneCare Vermont.

Download the Summary of Vermont’s All-Payer ACO Model and OneCare (PDF).