BPH alumna Lynn Barr appointed to Medicare Payment Advisory Commission

UC Berkeley School of Public Health alumna and health care innovator Lynn Barr, MPH ’10, has been appointed to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) by Gene Dodaro, the Comptroller General of the United States.

Barr is the founder and executive chairwoman of Kansas City’s Caravan Health, which guides and supports more than 200 health facilities and 20,000 clinicians in value-based payment models, such as accountable care organizations (ACOs). Before founding Caravan Health, Barr led multiple start-up companies dedicated to medical innovation and served on the Government Affairs Committee of the National Rural Health Association. Barr also established the National Rural Accountable Care Consortium (NRACC) so rural health providers could work together in payment reform payment models.

Barr is a pioneer in implementing value-based payment models in Medicare. This type of model rewards health care providers with incentive payments for the quality of care they give to people with Medicare and emphasizes high-quality, lower cost, and preventive patient care.

“Serving as a MedPAC commissioner is a tremendous honor,” said Barr. “I look forward to digging into the work and being part of this impressive team.”

Congress established MedPAC in 1997 to analyze access to care, cost and quality of care, and other key issues affecting Medicare. A nonpartisan legislative branch agency, MedPAC advises Congress on payments to providers in Medicare’s traditional fee-for-service programs and to health plans participating in the Medicare Advantage program.

“As a MedPAC commissioner, I look forward to being part of addressing the serious challenges facing the Medicare program,” said Barr. “A major focus of the Commission’s work is advising Congress on how to incentivize the transformation from volume-based reimbursement to value-based alternative payment models. I have done this work in some of the country’s most challenging communities through my work designing and implementing accountable care organizations for independent rural providers, federally qualified health centers, and safety net community health systems.”

“Making value-based payment work for all communities is key to the sustainability of the Medicare program,” Barr said. “My experience at Caravan Health adds an important perspective to MedPAC’s analytical work. My appointment to MedPAC is a great opportunity to amplify the voice of alternative payment model success for safety net providers.”