Abstract:
Small independent practices play a critical role in advancing health equity across California. This CIN webinar will share new data, lessons, and practical strategies for payers, purchasers, and policymakers to ensure the long-term sustainability of these health care providers.
About this event:
In California, a significant number of primary care visits—2.1 million, or one out of every 10—happen in small independent practices with three or fewer health care providers. Despite their critical role, these practices often operate with limited resources, face complex administrative burdens, and are excluded from many improvement programs.
This webinar explores how these small practices can thrive and how the health system can better support them. We’ll present recent data from 15 small practices across the Inland Empire and Humboldt County, along with results and insights from the EQuIP-LA initiative, a two-year collaboration between the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) and the California Quality Collaborative (CQC). Through EQuIP-LA, 31 independent practices serving more than 50,000 Medi-Cal enrollees achieved statistically significant improvements in at least one of three key areas: A1C control, colorectal cancer screening, and cardiovascular health, helping practices meet or exceed minimum performance levels.
Participants will also explore concrete strategies to:
- Reduce administrative burden on small practices
- Strengthen participation in quality improvement efforts
- Create supportive environments for small practices to thrive
The session will include a facilitated breakout discussion, giving participants the opportunity to exchange ideas and identify actionable next steps to strengthen independent practices statewide.
This workshop is intended for payers, purchasers and policymakers and others interested in learning how to strengthen independent primary care practices to help advance Health Equity in California.
At the end of the workshop, participants will:
- Gain new insights into the role and impact of independent practices in California’s healthcare landscape
- Learn from the EQuIP-LA initiative’s results and practical lessons
- Explore strategies for supporting independent practices through interactive discussion
The speakers will be:
- Diana Camacho, Senior Program Officer, California Health Care Foundation
- Jill Yegian, Ph.D., Health Care Market and Policy Consultant
- Peter Robertson, Senior Director, Practice Transformation, California Quality Collaborative