Advancing Community-Based Care and Supporting Value-Based Outcomes

On May 20, 2026, the UPMC Health Plan Neighborhood Center in Pittsburgh hosted its Senior Health and Wellness Expo. Health Plan–sponsored events like this demonstrate how health plans can bring value-based care strategies to life through community-based engagement. Integrating preventive services, social support, and cross-sector collaborative efforts in a single, trusted setting offers a replicable approach to support improved outcomes and help address care gaps and health-related social needs (HRSNs) for older adult populations.

The free event offered health screenings, dental services, healthy food access support, and resource navigation, meeting individuals where they are and helping to reduce common barriers to care.

A Population Health Approach in Practice

The expo drew 127 total participants, including 64 community members and representatives from 34 organizations. There was engagement across Medicare, Medicaid, commercial, and uninsured populations. This broad reach supports population health strategies that prioritize early engagement and prevention, particularly among older adults at higher risk for chronic conditions and health-related social needs.

From a managed care perspective, community-based events like this can:

• Support early identification of health risks, particularly for Medicare Advantage (MA) members
• Increase member engagement and ongoing participation in care and services, especially among populations that may benefit from in-person support
• Strengthen community collaborations that extend care beyond clinical settings.

Supporting Efforts to Close Preventive Care Gaps and Supporting Quality Performance

The event delivered 140 screenings across participating organizations, emphasizing preventive care that aligns with quality improvement priorities and Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set–relevant measures:

The following services were delivered through UPMC clinical teams and collaborating organizations:

• 93 musculoskeletal and functional screenings,including bone density, grip strength, and fall risk assessments)
• 25 cholesterol screenings through the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute
• Mobile health screenings (eg, blood pressure and glucose checks)
• 11 onsite dental visits

These services support early detection and management of common conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and fall risk, which are all closely tied to health and wellness, quality outcomes, and total cost of care. Furthermore, delivering screenings in a convenient, no-cost setting supports efforts to help close care gaps that might otherwise persist due to access barriers or competing priorities.

Integrating Social Needs to Drive Value-Based ROI

Beyond the clinical services offered, the event addressed key HRSN factors such as food access, which plays a critical role in chronic disease management and health outcomes:

• 37 households received food assistance, representing 61 individuals
• 32 food boxes and $380 in Food Bucks were distributed to support access to fresh foods

These interventions reflect the growing role of “food as medicine” strategies within value-based care models. Addressing food insecurity can help improve medication adherence, support better chronic condition management, and may contribute to improved outcomes over time, supporting overall value for health plans.

Enhancing Member Experience and Medicare Advantage Performance

Events like this expo also contribute to factors associated with member experience, a component of Medicare Advantage Star Ratings. Attendees expressed appreciation for access to services, particularly preventive dental care, which can be difficult to obtain consistently. In-person engagement helps:

• Build trust and satisfaction, which may influence Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems measures
• Improve perceived access to care and services
• Offer real-time opportunities for education and care navigation

These factors are especially important for older adults, who may face transportation, digital access, or health literacy challenges that may limit engagement through traditional channels.

Strengthening Care Coordination Through Community Collaborations

The participation of 34 community-based organizations fosters cross-sector collaboration. Community-based organizations who attended reported networking, forming new connections, and planning follow-up engagements. This collaborative environment supports:

• Closed-loop referrals, connecting individuals to services such as housing, workforce support, and behavioral health
• Care continuity
• Health care access solutions that extend the reach of health plan interventions.

One example highlighting this integrated model in action included an individual referred from a nearby clinic who accessed food distribution as well as workforce, education, and childcare support during the event, demonstrating how coordinated services can efficiently address multiple needs in a single visit.

A Blueprint for Community-Centered, Value-Based Care

UPMC Health Plan’s Neighborhood Centers in Pittsburgh and Erie, Pennsylvania, are designed to bridge clinical care and social support by offering health education, resource navigation, and connections to services addressing food insecurity, housing, and employment. The Senior Health and Wellness Expo exemplifies how this model can help deliver value by combining preventive care, HRSN interventions, and community collaborations in a single setting.

As health plans face increasing pressure to improve quality, control costs, and advance health equity, community-based engagement strategies provide a practical, potentially scalable pathway forward. Events like the Senior Health and Wellness Expo demonstrate how investing in trusted local infrastructure can help translate value-based care principles into real-world practice, support improved health and wellness outcomes for individuals, and strengthen population health more broadly.