Kevin Meriwether, Division President – Florida, CenterWell Senior Primary Care

Invest: sat down with Kevin Meriwether, division president for the Florida division of CenterWell Senior Primary Care, to discuss how value-based, senior-focused care is scaling across the state and what that shift means for outcomes, access, and affordability. With CenterWell and its sister brand, Conviva Senior Primary Care, expanding in major metros and strengthening its presence in community settings, Meriwether emphasized a model built around time, relationships, and a superior patient experience. “We’re able to provide integrated care teams that focus on prevention, coordination, and outcomes, and we’re proud of what that’s achieved,” Meriwether said.

What have been the significant milestones and achievements for CenterWell and Conviva in Florida over the past year, and were there any strategic shifts that surprised you?

One of the things we’re most proud of is how much we’ve expanded access to senior-focused, value-based care in Florida. One of our proof points is that value-based care really does improve patient outcomes compared to traditional fee-for-service medicine.

At CenterWell and Conviva, we now operate more than 400 centers nationwide and serve roughly 490,000 patients as of September 30, 2025. In Florida specifically, we have 156 senior-focused primary care centers across most major metropolitan areas, caring for approximately 256,000 patients.

Many of our locations are in economically challenged areas, where access to primary care has historically been limited. A lot of seniors who come to us at Medicare age haven’t consistently had primary care throughout their lives and often relied on emergency rooms instead. Now, we’re able to provide integrated care teams that focus on prevention, coordination, and outcomes, and we’re proud of what that’s achieved.

Two recent expansions stand out. We opened 13 centers inside Walmart locations in Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville. Being embedded in the community rather than in hospital-adjacent medical complexes makes care more accessible. Patients can see their doctor and run errands in one trip, which matters.

We also acquired The Villages Health near Ocala, adding eight primary care centers in that community. That’s an exciting opportunity to deepen our impact in a large senior population.

How are patient expectations changing, and how is CenterWell adapting its care model in response?

Our care model is designed specifically for seniors. Ninety-three percent of people over 65 have at least one major chronic condition, and 74% have two. Our average patient has three and a half conditions, and the average age is 74.

Because of that complexity, our physicians spend significantly more time with patients. Each clinician typically sees 10 to 12 patients a day, compared with 25 or 30 in fee-for-service settings. That time allows us to understand clinical needs, medications, behavioral health, and social factors that influence health.

What patients consistently want is to maintain functional independence as they age. They want to stay active, stay in their homes, and avoid becoming dependent on family members. We tailor care plans around those goals.

Our integrated care teams may include pharmacists, social workers, care managers, and nurses, depending on patient needs. Many of our centers also have wellness and activity rooms where patients participate in fitness classes, nutrition education, and social activities. That sense of community matters. Patients build relationships with staff and with each other, and it becomes a place they trust.

Staffing shortages remain a challenge across healthcare. How is CenterWell addressing recruitment and clinician satisfaction?

Burnout is a real issue in healthcare, particularly in fee-for-service environments where volume often takes priority. At CenterWell, our model gives clinicians the time and support to practice medicine the way many of them envisioned when they entered the field.

CenterWell is Humana’s care delivery organization, encompassing primary care, home health, and pharmacy under one leadership structure. That integration allows us to coordinate care more effectively and create a more rewarding environment for clinicians, who act as the quarterback of a patient’s care.

We also invest heavily in technology that supports access and flexibility. Virtual visits are increasingly important, especially for seniors with mobility challenges. Patient portals, text communication, and streamlined scheduling are now essential tools, not extras.

Over the past year and a half, we’ve expanded home-based care for patients who are homebound or recently discharged from the hospital. Strong transitions of care help prevent readmissions, improve outcomes, and reduce costs.

How is CenterWell using technology, including AI or predictive analytics, to improve care delivery?

We’ve long used data to identify underserved communities and guide where we open new centers. One newer technology we’re excited about is ambient clinical documentation.

With patient permission, a listening device captures the conversation during a visit and generates structured clinical notes. That allows physicians to maintain eye contact and focus on the patient rather than a screen. It improves the experience for both patients and clinicians and makes visits more efficient.

We also maintain longitudinal health records that integrate claims, pharmacy, and clinical data. That gives us a clearer picture of a patient’s journey and allows us to intervene earlier. Medication adherence is another key focus, supported through pharmacy integration and proactive communication.

Can you share examples of community partnerships that strengthen care delivery?

Social determinants of health play a huge role in outcomes. We developed the Community Health Navigator platform, which connects patients and caregivers to local resources addressing food insecurity, housing, transportation, and more.

We also partner with organizations like Feeding Tampa Bay and Feeding South Florida. Many seniors face food insecurity, and supporting these organizations helps address a critical but often overlooked issue.

What are some of the biggest challenges facing seniors today, particularly around affordability?

Our mission centers on access, affordability, and outcomes. That includes addressing medication costs. There’s growing momentum around transparent drug pricing and more direct models that reduce complexity and out-of-pocket costs, and CenterWell Pharmacy plays a role in supporting those efforts.

Employers are also grappling with demand for high-cost medications, and we’re working on benefit structures that improve access while controlling costs.

Looking ahead three to five years, how do you see Florida’s senior healthcare landscape evolving, and where does CenterWell fit?

We plan to continue expanding access to value-based care, and Florida will remain a key growth market.

CenterWell is payer-agnostic. We serve patients covered by many different major Medicare Advantage carriers, not just Humana, and we’re one part of a broader ecosystem of value-based providers.

What we’ve demonstrated in Florida is that value-based care improves outcomes and optimizes utilization. Patients engage more consistently with care, and overall costs are lower.

The most expensive care you can get is generally at the hospital, and if we can help our patients achieve better outcomes and not need to go to the emergency room or the hospital, that saves the overall resources. It also helps patients maintain independence and quality of life.

We’re continuing to advocate for value-based reimbursement models across Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare, including Accountable Care Organizations. That’s where we believe the system needs to go, and we’re committed to helping lead that shift.