Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio and physicians of the Ohio Independent Collaborative have launched an arrangement for Anthem Medicare Advantage members to promote greater preventative care, enhanced care coordination and chronic disease management.
The agreement, which went into effect Jan. 1, aims to improve quality while lowering the cost of care and is the first major payer contract for OIC since it formed last year.
Anthem launched the Enhanced Personal Health Care primary care program in Ohio in 2013 and has since contracted under the type of arrangement with thousands of providers across the state.
The agreement provides for value-based compensation for the work needed to deliver coordinated patient-centered care.
“This agreement with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield serves as a testimony to the leadership of the Ohio Independent Collaborative as we continue to pave the way for independent physician collaboration and improved patient care,” said Dr. Gary Pinta, president of OIC, in a statement. “Our Anthem partnership allows us to offer lowered costs and improved quality to patients.”
To participate in the shared savings aspect of the program, OIC physicians have to meet quality performance goals. Those who maintain or improve quality and optimize outcomes can earn value-based incentive compensation.
“I am pleased that Anthem and OIC are working together to provide access to quality health care to the region,” said Jim Pugliese, regional vice president of provider solutions for Anthem in Northern Ohio, in a statement.
