Anthem Partners With Goshen Group
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowAnthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, a subsidiary of Indianapolis-based WellPoint Inc. (NYSE: WLP), has announced a contract to improve health care at a Goshen hospital. The deal with Indiana University Health Goshen's Accountable Care Organization is also designed to reduce medical costs. News Release
October 8, 2014
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has announced that it will contract with Indiana University Health Goshen's Accountable Care Organization (ACO) to improve quality, enhance personal health care and reduce medical costs by increasing collaboration and efficiency.
“This ACO seeks to improve efficiency in the delivery care system to more effectively treat both acute and chronic conditions,” said Robert W. Hillman, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana. “The goal for both of our organizations is simple: to improve the health of thousands of Hoosiers in Northern Indiana.”
Under an ACO, the primary care physician is responsible for managing all aspects of a patient's health–coordinating medical care, closely monitoring the patient in between visits, and ensuring necessary follow up care is received. The insurer and medical provider share in the savings that are realized when the patient stays healthy. The results are: lower costs, less absenteeism, higher worker productivity and more efficient use of provider resources.
“Our integrated, team approach to improving the health of everyone in the community is the differentiating factor that creates higher quality outcomes for our patients,” said Randy Christophel, president and CEO of IU Health Goshen. “It has always been the mission of IU Health Goshen to improve the health of our community, and this new partnership and coordination with Anthem is an excellent way to bring these additional services to patients in our region.”
Both organizations will collect and analyze data on quality, costs, and utilization which enables them to identify opportunities to improve care and keep care affordable for patients and employers in Indiana.
This ACO will take effect October 1 and involves Goshen-area primary care physicians and specialists and approximately 9,000 Anthem members.
Statewide, more than 80,000 Indiana residents are included in ACO’s that are in place between Anthem and other provider systems.
Source: IU Health Goshen, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield