Skip to main content

Article

Unlocking new possibilities in risk adjustment

Optum helps health plans improve risk adjustment performance by using data, AI and smart tech to enhance accuracy, efficiency and integration.

Eric Haseman, SVP and General Manager, Risk and Quality | October 2, 2025 | 2-minute read

Driving Innovation in Risk Adjustment

Driving healthcare innovation with V28 and AI

The healthcare industry is in the midst of significant change, driven by the introduction of the V28 Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) model and other related factors. This change is spurring innovation at unprecedented levels, and at Optum we are at the forefront of this revolution.

We are rapidly advancing our ability to take a wealth of data — both historical and current active data flowing through the healthcare system — and discern what areas to focus on for a particular member, population or market. I firmly believe that we are fundamentally shifting how we think about risk adjustment and how solutions work.

Three key areas of transformation

  1. Value for cost and intelligence delivery — One of the main areas of transformation is finding new ways to deliver more features and intelligence. This includes automation, advanced AI and machine learning. These technologies are enabling us to process and analyze data more efficiently, enhancing the value our clients receive from their investment. For example, our AI models can quickly identify potential gaps in care, which may reduce the need for manual chart reviews and saving both time and resources.

  2. Digitization across the industry — The second area of focus is the digitization of healthcare processes. We are working to integrate our solutions directly into the healthcare workflow, making it easier for providers to access and act on our insights. For instance, we are developing APIs that can trigger requests to Optum when a patient has an upcoming appointment. We then send back any identified gaps or conditions for the provider to review during the visit. This helps enable providers with the necessary information at the point of care without leaving their EMR.

  3. Efficient service delivery — The third area of advancement is how our services are delivered. We are shifting to solutions that provide the same or better outcomes, but with faster, smarter implementation. This means leveraging AI and machine learning to assist in tasks that were traditionally manual, such as accessing medical records and documenting health conditions. Our ability to help provide a highly accurate and complete picture of patient health is reaching new levels, not only within risk adjustment but across the healthcare industry.

The orchestration of transformation

The orchestration of all these components — whether across a patient panel, a provider group, or a health system — is crucial. Much of the manual work we've done historically is now assisted by AI, which is transforming how we deliver care. For example, our AI models can convert unstructured data from medical records into actionable insights, which are then verified by our clinical teams. This not only speeds up the process but also helps achieve quality outcomes.

At Optum, we have made intentional investments and brought in top talent to intensify our focus on product roadmaps, new solutions and program orchestration. We have a global product organization, and our teams are experts in fields like engineering and analytics, bringing a diverse set of perspectives and innovative solutions to the table. Our global reach allows us to develop robust solutions that meet the needs of both payers and providers.

By focusing on value for cost, digitizing healthcare workflows and reducing people intensity, we are committed to developing solutions that are efficient, accurate and compliant. Our commitment to the provider experience and our global capabilities distinguish us in the industry. As we continue to innovate, we are excited to help our clients achieve their goals and deliver high-quality outcomes.

Stay up to date on how Optum is innovating risk adjustment and quality programs.

Explore insights on cost, quality and member experience challenges

Related healthcare insights

View all

White paper

Integrated risk and quality programs: A strategic approach

Unlock new efficiencies with a digital-first, AI-powered approach to empower value-based care and enhance health plan performance.

Article

Extracting value-based care insights from claims data

Actionable insights for health plans and providers to adopt a data-driven approach and achieve value-based care goals.

E-book

Digital integration and the path to interoperability

Creating a connected system to improve risk and quality outcomes.