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Using Direct Contracts to Improve Your Insurance Program

Written by Jennifer Stuart—Employee Benefits Advisor

November 11, 2024 · 2 min minute read

Blog Using Direct Contracts to Improve Your Insurance Program

Upfront pricing helps employers establish payment models with providers, such as direct contracting, that would lower spending and reduce the administrative role, and associated costs, of insurance intermediaries. A growing number of healthcare providers are ready to engage in direct-contracting arrangements as these types of contracts guarantee steerage of business and revenue diversification.

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Direct provider contracts in healthcare can benefit both providers and patients, and can also help employers control costs and improve access to care: 

  • Improved patient experience: Direct contracting can lead to a more positive care environment, where providers focus on wellness and patients have stronger relationships with their providers. 
  • Lower costs: Direct contracting can lead to lower, more consistent costs without compromising quality. 
  • Improved access to care: Direct contracting can lead to improved access to top-level care. 
  • Better price transparency: Direct contracting can lead to improved price transparency. 
  • Faster cash flow: Direct contracting can lead to faster cash flow for providers. 
  • Eliminates middleman processes: Direct contracting can eliminate complex “middleman” processes. 
  • Aligned incentives: Direct contracting can lead to aligned incentives for all parties. 
  • Improved patient outcomes: Direct contracting can lead to improved patient outcomes. 
  • Higher member satisfaction: Direct contracting can lead to higher member satisfaction. 
  • Differentiation: Direct contracting can help providers differentiate themselves in a competitive market. 
  • Steppingstone to larger-scale arrangements: Direct contracting can be a steppingstone to larger-scale value-based arrangements.  

Direct-contracting arrangements embody the belief that “health care is local” and can serve to build valuable bonds between healthcare providers and local employers and their patients. It’s important to be aware that direct contracting is complex and requires navigating and coordinating relationships between the employer, the provider, and the third-party administrator (TPA) to facilitate claims payments and audits. In addition, network adequacy and capacity must be carefully assessed to ensure that employees have convenient, reasonably timely access to care. Employers and providers negotiating direct-contract arrangements will also need to ensure compliance with an array of legal issues.

Have questions? Contact:

Jennifer Stuart

Jennifer Stuart

Employee Benefits Advisor

Call: (903) 716-5916
Book an Appointment»

Years of experience

19

I’ve spent my career immersed in the world of sales, service, and insurance, building a reputation as a change agent in the employee benefits space. My journey started in customer-facing roles, from managing retail stores to account management at Delta Dental, where I quickly realized the limitations of traditional approaches to insurance. Transitioning to brokerage, I honed my skills in self-funded health plans and innovative cost-control strategies. Over the years, I’ve grown businesses from the ground up, managed multimillion-dollar books of business, and helped clients navigate the complexities of healthcare with a proactive, data-driven approach. Today, as a producer with Leavitt Group, I’m passionate about aligning employer and employee goals to create sustainable, cost-effective benefits programs that add measurable value.

What sets me apart is my commitment to disrupting the status quo. While many brokers focus solely on minimizing renewal increases, I dig deeper—seeking alignment of interests, educating employees, and exploring creative funding options that benefit everyone involved. I believe in putting people first, whether that means breaking down complex policy language for better understanding or ensuring that cost-saving measures don’t come at the employee’s expense. My approach is rooted in integrity, innovation, and a relentless drive to find better solutions for my clients. With professional designations like Group Benefits Advisor (GBA) and a soon-to-be Certified Pharmacy Benefits Specialist (CPBS), I stay on the cutting edge of industry advancements, always striving to make a meaningful impact.

When I’m not diving into data or strategizing with clients, I’m a proud wife and mom to two children. We love traveling to experience new cultures, attending Astros games, and cheering at local soccer and football matches. An avid reader and art enthusiast, I find joy in history, philosophy, and drawing. Whether enjoying a meal at Pappas Seafood or spending time with family, I embrace the vibrant community around me. With roots in Rogers, Arkansas, and a career spanning Little Rock to Austin, I bring a blend of hometown values and big-picture thinking to every endeavor.

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