HealthTap is rolling out a new program for Medicare Advantage plans that seeks to help members form a connection with a primary care doctor that carries forward.

The program leans on a combination of proactive outreach and access to a patient's historical medical records to support plans in identifying needs or risks, filling care gaps and coordinating follow-up or other necessary care. It's built to directly support individuals who may not have a PCP on file.

HealthTap reaches out to those members proactively, the company said, and helps them schedule an initial virtual visit with a provider who stays connected for preventive services, chronic condition management and medication concerns.

"The angle that we're taking is: wouldn't it be cool if, in fact, your virtual primary care physician was just like a bricks and mortar primary care physician?" said Rick Cochran, senior vice president of health plans at HealthTap, in an interview with Fierce Healthcare.

In an ideal scenario, a patient who have a consistent primary care physician who they see over the course of multiple years and who they come to trust, he said. HealthTap is looking to build that experience with virtual primary care docs, and reach patients who are disconnected from the health system with critical services.

Cochran said the team at times receives feedback about concern that a program like this could upset in-network practices. However, he said that HealthTap views these services lines as complementary, and the company as offering another way for insurers to reach members who are underserved and in need of help.

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