HealthCare Partners and Cigna Start Accountable Care Program in Southern California to Improve Health Outcomes and Lower Costs
Cigna (NYSE:CI) and HealthCare
Partners Medical Group in Southern California have launched a
collaborative accountable care initiative to improve patient access
to healthcare, enhance care coordination, and achieve the “triple
aim” of improved health, affordability and patient
experience. The program became effective April 1.
Collaborative accountable care is Cigna's approach to accomplishing the
same population health goals as accountable care organizations, or ACOs.
The program could benefit as many as 10,000 individuals covered by a
Cigna health plan who receive care from among some 1,200 HealthCare
Partners primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician
assistants. HealthCare Partners medical clinics and primary and
specialty care affiliated physicians are located in the Greater Los
Angeles Metro area including the San Fernando Valley, Pasadena/San
Gabriel Valley, South Bay, Long Beach and Orange County.
“HealthCare Partners works every day to improve patient health, and
Cigna's focus on prevention and improving health care quality makes them
a strong organization for us to work with to achieve the 'triple aim,'”
said Tom Paulsen, M.D., executive medical director, HealthCare Partners
Medical Group. “HealthCare Partners applies best practices in patient
care and has continued to improve clinical quality metrics for patients
seen by our employed and independently affiliated physicians while
bending the cost curve.”
Under the program, patients continue to go to their current physician
and care team and benefit from preventive care programs and disease
management programs. HealthCare Partners monitors and coordinates all
aspects of a patient’s medical care. Patients most likely to see
immediate benefits from the program are those actively engaged with
their care teams and those who need help managing chronic conditions,
such as diabetes or heart disease.
Critical to the program’s benefits is HealthCare Partners’ coordinated
care model supported by a wide array of resources. The HealthCare
Partners care management team is aligned to a team of Cigna case
managers to ensure a high degree of collaboration when needed. All aimed
at improving the health of the individual, HealthCare Partners clinical
programs include disease management programs for diabetes, heart disease
and other conditions or lifestyle management programs, such as programs
for tobacco cessation, weight management and stress management. Together
the collaboration will reduce potential gaps in care such as patients
not refilling prescription drugs or patients overdue for health
screenings and immunizations.
“Our goal is to change the U.S. health care system from one that pays
for the volume of care provided to one that emphasizes the quality and
results of that care,” said Gene Rapisardi, president and general
manager for Cigna in Southern California. “We believe this change will
lead to better health, lower costs and increased satisfaction for both
patients and their doctors.”
The principles of the patient-centered medical home are the foundation
of Cigna's collaborative accountable care initiatives. Cigna then builds
on that foundation with a strong focus on collaboration and
communication with physician practices. Cigna is now engaged in nearly
60 collaborative accountable care initiatives in 24 states,
encompassing more than 650,000 Cigna customers and more than 23,000
doctors, including more than 11,000 primary care physicians and more
than 11,500 specialists.
Cigna launched its first collaborative accountable care program in 2008
and its goal is to have 100 of them in place with one million customers
in 2014.
About HealthCare Partners
HealthCare Partners, LLC, a wholly owned and independently operated
subsidiary of DaVita HealthCare Partners, has operations in California,
Nevada, Florida, and New Mexico. HealthCare Partners manages and
operates medical groups and affiliated physician networks nationally in
its pursuit of excellent quality healthcare delivered in a dignified and
compassionate manner. HealthCare Partners operates HealthCare Partners
Affiliates Medical Group (California), HealthCare Partners of Nevada,
JSA Healthcare Corporation (Florida), ABQ Health Partners (NM), The
Camden Group (a national consulting firm), and the HealthCare Partners
Institute for Applied Research and Education. HealthCare Partners cares
for more than 750,000 patients in four states. For more information,
please visit www.healthcarepartners.com.
About Cigna
Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) is a global health service company
dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and sense
of security. All products and services are provided exclusively by or
through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including
Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Cigna Health and Life
Insurance Company, Life Insurance Company of North America and Cigna
Life Insurance Company of New York. Such products and services include
an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental,
behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, supplemental benefits, and other
related products including group life, accident and disability
insurance. Cigna maintains sales capability in 30 countries and
jurisdictions, and has approximately 78 million customer relationships
throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna®, including links to
follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.
