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Danny Irland, MBA, FACHE

Health Care Executive | Value-Based Care Expert
Transformational Change Leader

Over the past 20+ years, Mr. Irland has held multiple executive positions within the UT Southwestern Health System (UTSW) and Southwestern Health Resources (SWHR) leading the organizations through transformational change − from a fee-for service reimbursement orientation to a highly successful value-based care model. He designed and implemented innovative contracting strategies; advocated for and developed the requisite infrastructure; and strategically grew the physician network positioning UTSW and SWHR as a national leader in value-based and risk arrangements across all payors.

In a nutshell, he conceptualized the value-based vision and developed the strategy, led organizational decision-making, and managed on-the-ground operations, then drove organizational performance generating over $500M in savings between 2014 and 2020.

The transformation began in 2005 when Mr. Irland led Managed Care Contracting for UTSW building the initial foundational building blocks for value-based contracting; a Clinically Integrated Network (CIN) and the UTSW Clinically Affiliated Physicians (UTSCAP) organization, a primary care network that still serves as SWHR’s growth engine today. In 2012, he built the case and obtained Board-level approval to pursue an all-payor, value-based strategy: grow the physician network, enter into CMS MSSP, push commercial payors to structure new shared-savings contracts, and build the infrastructure to support it.

He led the development of UT Southwestern Accountable Care Network (UTSACN), the organization’s population health management infrastructure, through EMR consolidation, implementation of central data repository, patient risk stratification, predictive modeling, and care coordination programs. He assumed leadership positions in both UTSACN and UTSCAP while also leading the System Managed Care Contracting function.

Mr. Irland successfully led the continued value-based care evolution with participation in CMS’s Next Generation ACO risk-sharing model and further developed the sophistication in infrastructure necessary to support increased risk bearing. The ACO generated $73+M in savings in its first three years and generated enough savings to be ranked nationally in the top 10 CMS ACO’s each of the last six years including number one in the country in 2017 through 2019.

Beginning in 2017 when SWHR was created as a Joint Venture between UTSW and Texas Health Resources, Mr. Irland served in executive leadership positions (SVP Network Operations & Chief Network Officer, Chief Financial Officer, VP, Market & Payor Relations) charged with further expanding value-based contracts, directing provider incentive programs, and identifying and implementing strategic value enhancements to meet organizational imperatives.
Prior to 2017, Mr. Irland held several executive positions within UTSW, including, Chief Executive Officer, UTSW Accountable Care Network and Chief Operating Officer, UTSW Health Systems.

Mr. Irland earned a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) with a concentration in finance from the University of Dallas. He graduated from Northwood University with a bachelor’s degree (BBA) in marketing and management. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executive (FACHE).