As the need for greater outreach and collaboration between payers and providers grows, many providers plan to add a chief population health officer (CPHO) to their staff, reports Healthcare Payer News. CPHOs report to the CEO, and handle overall strategic direction and coordination of population health and care management. To fill this position, it's possible potential candidates could have payer or even physician group backgrounds. Most importantly, the individual should understand both healthcare reform and how to strategically implement value-based care. "This position is usually asked to take the lead in helping to design the population health strategy for the organization, and then taking the ball and implementing it," Jim King, senior partner and chief quality officer at executive search firm Witt/Kieffer, told the publication. Article