18 October 2019 2 Min Read
Key Takeaways: 2019 NPA Annual Conference
This year’s NPA Annual Conference took place in New Orleans on October 13 – 16. As operators of and investors in healthcare companies, NCP team members were present at the conference to meet with innovators and stay on top of this year’s trends in the space. Below are some key takeaways from the conference and a highlight from the event: a site tour of the Shirley Landry Benson PACE Center at St. Cecilia. 
The educational sessions covered a wide breadth of categories within PACE, including but not limited to: census growth, government policies, health plans, clinical issues, interdisciplinary team planning, and quality initiatives. Within these categories, several themes emerged.
The Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) Is Primed for Innovation
The IDT consists of the core service providers for PACE participants, and this year’s conference featured several sessions on opportunities for innovation and collaboration inside and outside of the IDT. Topics in these sessions included incorporating clinical pharmacy and on-site medication therapy; coordinating with community-based physicians; improving day-to-day processes; and building a high-performing, continuously improving culture in the IDT.
New Regulations Present New Opportunities and Challenges
Several sessions addressed the latest regulations governing PACE and how programs work within them. Speakers on this topic addressed how PACE leaders think about the future of their programs, how teams can implement new opportunities under the PACE final rule, and how to establish partnerships that support PACE growth and sustainability.
Data Can Be a Tool for Successful Program Management and Improvement
Data is useful in several areas of healthcare,and PACE is no exception. Panels on using data to create meaningful reporting, employing data-driven metrics to manage programs, mining NPA data services to inform programming and financial decisions, and using data to prepare for a successful CMS audit were among the sessions on this topic at the conference.
A Personal Takeaway: My Visit to the Shirley Landry Benson PACE Center
My first NPA conference was an awesome experience. I particularly enjoyed touring the Shirley Landry Benson PACE Center at St. Cecilia. (Pictured at right. Photo from NPA Conference Program.) It is definitely a one-of-a-kind, beautiful place. The integrated care model provides better outcomes at a lower cost — a win for patients and their families. New Capital Partners is a mission-oriented healthcare investor, and we are more inspired than ever to be a part of growing PACE census around the country. – Danny Despot
If you’d like to learn more about our investment focus in the managed care industry, check out the story of our partnership with Senior Whole Health, a senior care organization focused on serving dual-eligible seniors.