This guest blog is one in a series by sponsors of the 2025 PQA Leadership Summit on how health plans are rebuilding trust and driving change locally. PQA does not endorse, recommend or favor any product, service or organization that is a sponsor.

Over the past six months, I’ve had the opportunity to attend several industry conferences, and a consistent theme has emerged; health plans are taking a step back and reevaluating their role in the communities they serve. It’s no longer just about clinical outcomes or cost control; it’s about people, place, and presence. The most impactful insights I’ve heard revolve around four key shifts shaping the future of healthcare delivery:

1. Rebuilding Trust in the Community

Many payers, especially those focused on Medicaid and community-based plans, are actively working to win back trust in their communities.

But this isn’t just about improving health metrics. It’s about being present. It’s about showing up physically, emotionally, and tangibly in the lives of members. Visibility matters. Value matters. And members need to feel both in real, everyday ways.

2. Keeping Healthcare Dollars Local

Another emerging strategy centers on keeping healthcare dollars within the zip codes where members live. Payers are increasingly investing in local partnerships with pharmacies, providers, and grassroots organizations to create care ecosystems that are not only effective but also sustainable and equitable.

This is where Outcomes thrives. Our ability to activate local pharmacy networks ensures that interventions are not only clinically sound, but also community rooted.

3. Localized, Member-Centric Interventions

Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all care models. Payers now want programs that reflect the unique needs of their populations, whether that’s language, culture, access, or lived experience. Hyper-localization is becoming the norm, not the exception.

Our payer engagement model was built for this. From modular program design to data-driven targeting and pharmacy enablement, we’re equipped to support plans in delivering personalized care that resonates at the neighborhood level.

4. Aligning Strategically with Health Equity

Health equity has evolved from a buzzword to a business driver. For many payers, it’s now a strategic imperative—fueling efforts to close care gaps, especially in underserved communities, and guiding partnerships that deliver measurable impact.

At Outcomes, our programs, whether focused on medication adherence, comprehensive medication reviews (CMRs), or social determinants of health (SDOH)-sensitive interventions, are built with equity at the core.

This renewed focus on community shouldn’t come as a surprise. We see it all around us in local events, boutique shops, and even farmers markets. These small but meaningful connections are what bring a community to life.

For me, it’s personal. Whether it’s my wife being involved with our local community garden organization, or the hot sauce maker down the road asking me for advice on a new, never-before-sold spicy formula, these community ties matter. They’re real. They’re lasting. And they remind me that meaningful impact always starts close to home and health plans are embracing that same mindset: community first, to drive broader impact.