Formation of a National Lifestyle Medicine Network to BenefitPatients and Lifestyle Medicine Providers

摘要

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) is forming a Lifestyle MedicineProvider Network (LMPN). The goal of this network is 2-fold: (1) to providesignificant benefits to patients by focusing on the adoption of intensiveevidence-based lifestyle medicine (LM) therapies to treat and reverse chronicdisease and (2) to benefit LM providers by supporting their practice operationsand optimizing contracting and reimbursement opportunities. The 2 phases of thenetwork development will include (1) network formation and practicestandardization and (2) deployment for group contracting. LMPN will be organizedas a special project of the ACLM, with leadership provided through the ACLM LMPNTask Force. As part of this first phase, ACLM will devote the necessaryresources to establish the network and promote LM training, certification, andsharing of best practices across the network. The second phase will necessitatethe establishment of a separate corporate entity, enabling the acquisition ofthe required capital and expertise to fully realize the potential of LMPNdeployment. Strategic direction will be provided by a LMPN Board of Advisors,consisting of select network members as well as select members of ACLM’s Boardof Directors. The first priority of the LMPN will be to recruit interested andqualifying LM practitioners and standardize the LM approach and process of caredelivery, starting with high-value services, such as chronic care management.The focus on maximizing existing provider program incentives avails the LMPN thefastest and most efficient path to demonstrating value to its members and to itsclient base.