US-based Mercy and Wellvana have announced a 20-year affiliation to expand access to a value-based care programme for independent primary care physicians and advanced practice providers.

This collaboration aims to create a clinically integrated network (CIN) in the country, in which these physicians and providers can take part.

The care programme integrates Mercy's population health infrastructure with Wellvana’s enablement platform.

It will enable more physicians and providers across Mercy’s service area to participate in coordinated value-based care models.

As part of the arrangement, Wellvana will support providers with electronic medical record integration, operational and clinical care teams, and payment models aligned with quality care outcomes.

Value-based care payment models incentivise providers for care quality and patient outcomes rather than the volume of services delivered.

By increasing participation in this programme, Mercy and Wellvana intend to improve patient access to coordinated care and assist independent physicians in managing care under Medicare Advantage, Medicare and commercial insurance plans.

The affiliation will focus on reducing administrative workloads for independent providers and improve patient outcomes. The programme will support at the practice level for every participating physician, offer care coordination resources and data-driven insights.

To support the new value-based care programme, Mercy and Wellvana plan to organise information and networking events throughout Mercy’s communities, assisting providers and physicians explore participation opportunities.

Mercy president and CEO Steve Mackin said: “We believe the future of health care belongs to models that reward positive health outcomes through partnership.

“By teaming up with Wellvana, we’re giving even more physicians the tools and support they need to provide more proactive, coordinated care, helping to expand access to the kind of care that aims to keep patients healthy and out of the hospital.”

In April 2025, Mercy secured a four-year funding award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to expand its AI-driven, electronic patient-reported monitoring platform to all adult patients receiving chemotherapy.