Physician-led Vancouver Clinic leans into Medicare Advantage

Mark Mantei offers a convincing argument that he believes Medicare Advantage is the best health care program for seniors: He plans to use it himself.

Mantei, who just turned 65, is CEO of the Vancouver Clinic, a physician-owned multispecialty medical practice operating in Washington and Oregon. He told Better Medicare Alliance recently that Medicare Advantage reminds physicians of “why they went into medicine in the first place.”

Mantei said the clinic did not believe Fee-For-Service “was the best way to go.” With Medicare Advantage, patients receive coordinated care from their doctor that includes special services tailored to their health and wellness needs.

By embracing Medicare Advantage, Vancouver Clinic has made strides in preventing and treating chronic illnesses. It’s why federal government support for the program is “super important,” Mantei said.

The Medicare Advantage model prioritizes proactive, preventive, coordinated care that helps keep seniors healthier, sometimes called “value-based care” as opposed to a volume-based approach. Vancouver Clinic offers primary and specialty care at 20 locations; five of which are designed specifically for seniors.

Vancouver Clinic’s approach to value-based care includes sending teams of hospitalists to perform extra triage in emergency department waiting rooms. They can help redirect some patients to a next-day appointment with a specialist. Doctors in the ER appreciate the effort, as they are always facing backlogs. And once a patient is admitted to the hospital, Vancouver Clinic’s approach helps direct them to the care they need. Through the transitional care clinic, high-risk patients are identified and then connected to a team of health professionals. Physicians spend time treating chronic illnesses to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.

Some patients who have previously been admitted as many as 14 times per year are now on a regular outpatient cycle. This shows how Medicare Advantage improves patient care while also saving resources.

The clinic offers telehealth service and has a nurse triage phone line that will soon be operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These resources allow patients to receive care when they need it, and let physicians focus on their specialties.

Medicare Advantage beneficiaries tend to be more involved in their care, such as accessing patient portals to see their health information. Caregivers can have that access as well, Mantei said.

Value-based care has also been shown to decrease physician burnout, a common source of frustration for providers. Primary care providers say they have time to spend with their patients, allowing them to anticipate patients’ needs and work on preventing chronic illness.  Those in specialty care say they are getting more appropriate consults and can work at the top of their license more easily.

Vancouver Clinic, which was founded 89 years ago, has a net promoter score — a measure of customer loyalty — of 78. Mantei chalks this up to more meaningful relationships between Medicare Advantage patients and their care teams as well as two-way accountability for health outcomes.

“When you’re part of the Vancouver Clinic, you’re going to receive excellent integrated care,” Mantei said. “A lot of that is due to value-based care programs.”