WellCare Health and agilon health offer value-based care

WellCare Health Plans, Inc. WCG has announced that it is expanding its provider network through a value-based care agreement with leading national organization Agilon Health. With this agreement, WellCare Health offers patients an excellent surgical platform by providing them with access to primary care physicians.

The transaction aims to provide better care to patients in Texas, address population health management, and reduce overall healthcare costs. Value-based programs generally reward healthcare providers with incentives based on the type and quality of care provided to members. In particular, this collaboration could provide members with a more comprehensive experience and coordinated healthcare.

The company is constantly working to improve treatments through value-based care, partnerships and acquisitions. Recently, it merged with VillageMD, a leading national primary care provider, to include its network of physician practices in Georgia and Illinois. Through this deal, the company aims to achieve better health outcomes through quality-driven improvements.

WellCare Health is actively seeking acquisition opportunities to accelerate its growth. The acquisitions of Care1st Arizona and Advicare have significantly added to WellCare Health’s Medicaid business and helped diversify its Medicaid portfolio. Also notable are the company’s acquisitions of Universal American Corp and Phoenix Health Plans’ Arizona Medicaid assets. Most recently, the company acquired Meridian Health Plans of Michigan and Illinois and MeridianRx to become the leading Medicaid provider.

Shares of this Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company have risen 85.3% in one year, outperforming the industry’s gain of 38.6%.

Other stocks to consider

Investors interested in the Medical HMO industry may want to check out other top-ranked stocks like Anthem, Inc. ANTM, Humana Inc. HUM, and UnitedHealth Group Incorporated UNH.

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Anthem offers network-based managed care health insurance plans for individuals, small and large groups, and Medicaid and Medicare. With a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), the company has outperformed an average of 6.65% over the past four quarters.

Humana is a healthcare and wellness company in the U.S. It currently has a Zacks Rank of 2 and has managed to surprise by an average of 3.96% over the last four quarters.

UnitedHealth is a diversified healthcare company in the United States. It currently holds a Zacks Rank of #2 and has delivered a positive surprise of 3.71% over the past four quarters.

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