Organizations for independent doctors plan to merge Jan. 1

Organizations for independent doctors plan to merge Jan. 1
Dr. Khan Nedd, interim CEO of Answer Health

Two organizations representing independent physicians in West Michigan will become one on Jan. 1.

Physicians’ Organization of Western Michigan and West Michigan Physicians Network plan to merge and form Answer Health Physician Organization, a unit of the Answer Health LLC clinically-integrated care network formed in 2015.

The Answer Health PO will have about 700 physicians who practice independently from a health system.

Physicians’ Organization of Western Michigan and West Michigan Physicians Network formed Answer Health began as a clinically-integrated care network to give greater voice in the market to doctors who operate their own medical practice. The care network works to share clinical best medical practices, improve quality and cost, better coordinate patient care across the broader health care system, and work out contracts with insurers.

The two organizations later decided to combine into a new PO under the Answer Health banner. Members of the two organizations voted last week to proceed with the merger, creating a larger voice in the market for independent medical practices as a growing number of doctors opt to work for health systems.

“There was no need to have two different, independent physician organizations in the Grand Rapids area and West Michigan,” said Dr. Khan Nedd, interim CEO of Answer Health. “We were doing some of the same things, so it made sense to join forces. We really feel that independent physicians play a very important role in the landscape of health care in the West Michigan market. Obviously we see all of the hospitals as important partners moving forward.”

Answer Health PHO has already signed about half of the doctors who were part of Physicians’ Organization of Western Michigan or West Michigan Physicians Network.

“We expect a vast majority of members would be there,” he said.