Cigna (NYSE:CI) and The
Polyclinic have launched a collaborative
accountable care initiative to improve patient access to
health care, enhance care coordination, and achieve the “triple
aim” of improved health, affordability and patient
experience. The program became effective October 1 and is Cigna's
second accountable care initiative in the region.
Collaborative accountable care is Cigna's approach to
accomplishing the same population health goals as accountable care
organizations, or ACOs. The program will benefit individuals
covered by a Cigna health plan who receive care from The Polyclinic’s
175 primary care doctors and specialists.
“We are pleased to collaborate with Cigna to offer a shared savings
accountable care option to area businesses looking to better manage
their health care costs,” said Lloyd David, executive director and CEO
at The Polyclinic, one of the leading multispecialty physician groups in
the Seattle area and the only one that’s physician-owned and led. “By
putting more resources toward partnering with patients and helping them
better manage their health, we can help deliver a lower total cost of
care. In this scenario, everyone wins: employers, insurers, providers,
and especially, patients.”
“Our aim is to change the health care delivery system for the benefit of
individuals, families, employers and health care professionals,” said
Peter B. Welch, president of Cigna HealthCare of the Pacific Northwest.
“When we focus on prevention, wellness and better care coordination, and
reward physicians for results, we’ll have a healthier population and
lower medical costs.”
Under the program, The Polyclinic will monitor and coordinate all
aspects of an individual’s medical care. Patients will continue to go to
their current physician and automatically receive the benefits of the
program. Individuals who are enrolled in a Cigna health plan and later
choose to seek care from a Polyclinic doctor will also have access to
the benefits of the program. There are no changes in any plan
requirements regarding referrals to specialists. Patients most likely to
see the immediate benefits of the program are those who need help
managing chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
Critical to the program’s benefits are registered nurses, employed by
The Polyclinic, who will serve as clinical care coordinators and help
patients with chronic conditions or other health challenges navigate the
health care system. The care coordinators are aligned with a team of
Cigna case managers to ensure a high degree of collaboration between the
medical group and Cigna, which will ultimately provide a better
experience for the individual.
The care coordinators will enhance care by using patient-specific data
from Cigna to help identify patients being discharged from the hospital
who might be at risk for readmission, as well as patients who may be
overdue for important health screenings or who may have skipped a
prescription refill. The care coordinators are part of the physician-led
care team that will help patients get the follow-up care or screenings
they need, identify potential complications related to medications and
help prevent chronic conditions from worsening.
Care coordinators can also help patients schedule appointments, provide
health education and refer patients to Cigna's clinical support
programs, such as disease management programs for diabetes, heart
disease and other conditions; and lifestyle management programs, such as
programs for tobacco cessation, weight management and stress management.
Cigna will compensate The Polyclinic for the medical and care
coordination services it provides. Additionally, The Polyclinic may be
rewarded through a “pay for value” structure if it meets targets for
improving quality and lowering medical costs.
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 has 75
collaborative accountable care initiatives in 26 states,
encompassing more than 760,000 commercial customers and more than 30,000
doctors, including more than 14,000 primary care physicians and more
than 16,500 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.
Collaborative accountable care is one component of the company's
approach to physician engagement for health improvement, which also
includes the innovative Cigna-HealthSpringSM care model for
Medicare customers. Today, well over one million Cigna and
Cigna-HealthSpring customers benefit from 240 engaged physician
relationships across 31 states, with more than 58,000 doctors
participating, including more than 20,000 primary care physicians and
nearly 38,000 specialists.
About The Polyclinic
The Polyclinic is made up of 175 physicians, including internal
medicine, family medicine, OB/GYN, pediatrics, and 24 additional medical
and surgical specialties at a dozen locations in and around Seattle.
Since its inception in 1917, The Polyclinic’s mission has been to
promote the health of its patients through high-quality, comprehensive
and personalized care. For more information visit www.polyclinic.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 80 million customer relationships
throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna®, including links to
follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.
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