Vera Whole Health latest primary care provider to enter the market

Contributed Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut President Lou Gianquinto cuts the ribbon as Vera Whole Health and other state elected officials watch during the official opening of the new Vera Whole Health care center at 399 Farmington Ave. in Farmington on Monday.

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By David Krechevsky

Vera Whole Health, a national primary healthcare provider, marked the opening of its first Connecticut location Monday, the latest provider to plant its flag in the state.

The company, which now has 22 locations in 11 states, opened its Vera Whole Health care center at 399 Farmington Ave. in Farmington. The center was opened in partnership with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Connecticut.

Vera joins Oak Street Health centers as healthcare providers targeting Connecticut for their primary care centers. In August, CVS, which acquired Oak Street Health last year, said it plans to open three Oak Street Health centers within existing pharmacy locations in New Haven, Waterbury and Bridgeport by the end of this year.

Vera Whole Health says its centers offer an alternative to traditional healthcare systems by providing an advanced primary care (APC) setting that includes leveraging data-driven insights about patients and integrating multi-functional care teams — which can include health coaching, behavioral health clinicians and diabetes educators — into the primary care setting.

APC is only possible if providers, payers and employers agree to align incentives around health outcomes rather than around a volume-based, fee-for-service approach, Vera said, adding that employers have seen a 21% reduction in healthcare costs during the first year alone.

Its primary care service is also designed to integrate with Anthem’s benefits and programs in an effort to improve health outcomes and reduce the total cost of care, the company said.

The new Farmington care center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is closed on Saturday and Sunday.