Milford Wellness Village – Foundation of Value-Based Care in Rural Delaware:

Source: PubMed Central Open Access, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine

This article offers insights into an innovative community-based organization improving the health of individuals residing in Delaware, with a focus on older adults and rural populations. We profile Milford Wellness Village (MWV), an integrated health and social services campus hosting over 30 service providers and offering a suite of interventions that help residents to age in place, address chronic conditions, and reduce overall health care costs. Specifically, MWV’s adaptive reuse of community facilities, establishment of an integrated continuum of care, and adoption of value-based payment approaches make it a unique entity worthy of ongoing study. As communities across the country wrestle with how to address public health concerns, improve service delivery, and enhance outcomes for vulnerable populations, innovative models like MWV can serve as a blueprint. Adoption of value-based payment is a growing priority for stakeholders across the health care system who are seeking ways to reform traditional approaches to reimbursement to address cost growth while ensuring access to high-quality care. For many providers and payers, the path forward has been challenging, but examples of successful models offer important lessons for national efforts.