Last week, our newly announced CEO Vicki Loner officially took the reins of OneCare Vermont, which is in the midpoint of a five year All Payer Accountable Care Organization model designed to improve health, increase quality of care, and control costs. Loner brings over 24 years of health care and executive leadership experience to the role.
We sat down with Loner and asked a few questions to help you get to know Loner better.
How did you end up in health care reform?
“My career began as a registered nurse and I enjoyed my work doing population health management, even though it was not called that at the time. I spent several years working on the payer side in clinical and managerial roles at MVP and BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont and also served as the Deputy Commissioner of Department of Vermont Health Access. I joined OneCare six years ago and have felt challenged and energized by the journey.”
What is your vision for the future of OneCare?
“Getting us to years six through ten. We are at the midpoint of the five year All Payer Model and I will be working to keep the momentum going. OneCare has focused on operationalizing change and creating a structure that we can continue to build upon as we move forward.”
What excites you about this role?
“No one else is doing this! I gravitate toward roles and responsibilities where you can trailblaze. We are creating change in Vermont such as—payment reform, forming a common voice, and putting decisions in the hands of health care providers. The energy and enthusiasm throughout the state motivates me to lead this effort and keep it moving forward.”
About OneCare Vermont ACO
OneCare is an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) working with Medicare (Next Generation Model), Vermont Medicaid, Commercial, and Self-Funded insurance programs to improve the health of Vermonters and lower health care costs. Established as an ACO in 2013 by Dartmouth-Hitchcock and the University of Vermont Medical Center, the OneCare network in 2019 includes the communities of Bennington, Brattleboro, Burlington, Lebanon, Middlebury, Montpelier, Newport, Randolph, Rutland, Springfield, St. Albans, St. Johnsbury, and Windsor. OneCare Vermont comprises an extensive network of providers, including hospitals in Vermont and New Hampshire, hundreds of primary and specialty care physicians, skilled nursing facilities, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Home Health Agencies, Area Agencies on Aging, and Designated Agencies for Mental Health and Substance Use. Over 172,000 Vermonters receive care from a provider in the OneCare network.