Lynn Barr, MPH
Founder and Executive Chair, Caravan Health
Lynn Barr is recognized as an influential leader in the movement to transform our nation’s health care systems and is driven to improve health care outcomes.
As Founder and Executive Chairwoman of Caravan Health, Lynn leads the development and implementation of nationwide programs that result in better patient care and help health care providers achieve sustainable financial success. She established Caravan Health so providers interested in population health programs would have affordable and accessible resources and proven methodologies. Under Lynn’s direction, Caravan has paved the way for providers to successful use payment models such as Practice Transformation Networks, Medicare, and Commercial Accountable Care Organizations, MACRA and Comprehensive Primary Care to improve the quality of care they deliver. Caravan Health is widely recognized as the nation’s leader in accountable care and supports more than 25,000 primary care providers and approximately 250 community hospitals in value-based payment models using award-winning technology and industry-leading workflows.
As a pioneer in implementing value-based payment models in Medicare with more than 30 years of health care experience, Lynn is a highly regarded national speaker and frequent collaborator with government and leading organizations striving to improve our health care delivery systems. Caravan Health is recognized for its advocation for clients and value-based methodologies to Congress. In June 2021, Lynn was appointed to a three-year term as a member of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC).
Lynn understands the challenges facing rural providers and played an integral role in the development of the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Investment Model (AIM), a successful CMS model designed to support small rural ACOs participating in value-based arrangement for the first time.
Awards & Accommodations
2021: Appointed to Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) for a three-year term
2020: Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Innovators
2018: Berkeley School of Public Health’s 75 Most Influential Alumni
2016: National Rural Health Associations Louis Gorin Award for Outstanding Achievement in Rural Health Care
2014: California State Rural Health Association Outstanding Achievement Award
Prior to forming Caravan Health, Lynn shepherded four start-up companies and 12 medical inventions before dedicating the remainder of her career to health care reform. Some highlights prior to Caravan Health include:
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Directed the California Health IT and Exchange Strategic Planning Team under California Health and Human Services and formed the Rural Health Information Technology Consortium and assessed health IT status of California Rural and Critical Access Hospitals.
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Developed a $20 million rural hospital EHR loan program with United Health Group.
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Formed the National Rural ACO and led the first rural health payment reform movement in the country designed to transition rural providers to value-based payments. This successful ACO currently included more than 500 provider systems.
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Organized the National Rural Accountable Care Consortium to help rural health providers overcome barriers so they could participate in innovative payment models under healthcare reform.
