Cigna (NYSE: CI) has launched collaborative
care initiatives with three North Texas medical groups. The new
arrangements with Catalyst
Health Network, Dallas
Methodist Physicians Network (DMPN) and Genesis
Accountable Physician Network (GAPN) aim to improve patient
access to health care, enhance care coordination, and achieve
the goal of improved health, affordability and patient
experience. With the launch of these three programs, which became
effective April 1, Cigna now has nine collaborative care initiatives in
the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
Cigna Collaborative Care is the company’s approach to
accomplishing the same population health goals as accountable care
organizations, or ACOs. These three new programs will benefit
more than 22,000 individuals covered by a Cigna health plan who receive
care from more than 260 primary care doctors at the three groups.
In places where it’s been introduced, Cigna Collaborative Care is
helping to improve
the health of Cigna customers while effectively managing medical costs.
The programs are helping to close gaps in care, such as missed health
screenings or prescription refills, reinforcing the appropriate use of
hospital emergency rooms, increasing the number of preventive health
visits and improving follow-up care for people transitioning from the
hospital to home.
“We’re looking forward to this collaboration with Cigna, which is an
excellent opportunity for our independent physicians to continue
bringing real value to our communities by delivering superior quality of
care while holding the line on cost,” said Dr. Christopher Crow,
president of Catalyst Health Network.
“Improving the lives of our patients through quality care is at the
heart of our mission, which is why this collaboration with Cigna is a
great fit for us,” said Michael S. Marshall, M.D., chair of the DMPN
board of directors. “Care coordinators will play a pivotal role because
better coordinated care is fundamental to better health and lower costs.”
“We believe that health care relies on solid relationships, and this new
collaboration builds relationships between our independent physician
members, patients, and Cigna,” said Dr. Jim Walton, president and CEO of
Genesis Physicians Group. “Care coordination, which is central to this
collaboration, supports our members as they help patients manage chronic
conditions and live healthier lives.”
“Through these types of collaboration we have the opportunity to help
transform the health care delivery system,” said Dr. Frederick Watson,
Cigna’s senior medical director for North Texas. “When we reward doctors
for results and focus on prevention, wellness, health improvement and
care coordination, we can create a system that works for everyone who
uses, pays for or delivers health care.”
Under the program, the medical groups will monitor and coordinate all
aspects of an individual’s medical care. Patients will continue to go to
their current physicians and automatically receive the benefits of the
program. Individuals who are enrolled in a Cigna health plan and later
choose to seek care from these medical groups 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 the registered nurse clinical
care coordinators, employed by the medical groups, who will 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 groups 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 individuals being discharged from the
hospital who might be at risk for readmission, as well as individuals
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 teams that will help people 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 individuals schedule appointments,
provide health education and refer people 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 medical groups for the medical and care
coordination services they provide. Additionally, the physician groups
may be rewarded through a “pay for value” structure if they meet targets
for improving quality and lowering medical costs.
Cigna has been at the forefront of the accountable care organization
movement since 2008 and now has 122 Cigna
Collaborative Care arrangements with large physician groups that
span 29 states, reach more than 1.3 million commercial customers and
encompass more than 50,000 doctors, including more than 24,000 primary
care physicians and more than 27,000 specialists.
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 more than 86 million customer relationships
throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna®, including links to
follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.
About Catalyst Health Network
Catalyst Health Network is a clinically integrated network of physicians
designed to provide coordinated, high-quality care to patients. Catalyst
provides independent physicians a dynamic population health platform
that is critical to reach the Triple Aim in healthcare – higher quality,
improved cost and an enhanced patient experience. Physicians are able to
remain independent while enjoying the services and structure needed to
be successful in the new, value-based world of healthcare. Catalyst
received certification by the Texas Medical Board as a nonprofit health
corporation. The network is comprised solely of physician members and
managed by StratiFi Health, a physician services organization. For more
information, visit www.catalysthealthnetwork.com or
follow @CatalystHN on Twitter.
About Dallas Methodist Physicians Network
Dallas Methodist Physicians Network is a non-profit healthcare
organization certified by the Texas Medical Board which has been in the
Dallas market since 1986. The network is comprised of independently
practicing primary care physicians and medical specialist physicians
with offices in Arlington, Dallas, DeSoto, Duncanville, Grand Prairie,
Mansfield, McKinney, Midlothian, Richardson, and Waxahachie. The
network’s hallmark is its emphasis on the use of nationally recognized
evidence based quality metrics, and excellent in office practice
standards.
About Genesis Physicians Group
Based in Dallas, Texas, Genesis Physicians Group is the largest
independent physicians association in North Texas with 1,400 primary and
specialty care physician members. Genesis provides services to support
private practices in the business of medicine. Its clinically integrated
subsidiary, Genesis Accountable Physician Network (GAPN), operates with
nearly 400 physicians. GAPN offers members value-based contracting, care
coordination services, and performance improvement initiatives to
enhance health outcomes. Visit www.genesisdocs.org
and www.genesisaco.com
for more information.
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