Anthem Partners With American Medical Association
(Image courtesy of Anthem Inc.)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndianapolis-based Anthem Inc. (NYSE: ANTM) has announced a collaboration with the American Medical Association to find what the organizations say are ways to make health care more affordable. The collaboration includes identifying solutions involving patients, physicians and health plans.
Anthem Chief Clinical Officer Craig Samitt, M.D. says work needs to be done "Collaboration between payers and health care professionals is critical in order to evolve and advance our health care system to one that is simpler, more accessible and more affordable for consumers. At Anthem, we value our relationships with health care professionals, and today we are reaffirming our commitment to work together to create a best-in-class health care system that delivers on this promise for patients across the country."
- Anthem and the AMA will begin work in several areas:
- Enhance consumer and patient health care literacy
- Physicians and health plans can help enhance patients’ understanding of health plan benefits, treatment selection and choice of care setting.
- Develop/enhance and implement value-based payment models for primary and specialty care physicians
- Value-based payment models have the potential to improve clinical outcomes, care access and lower total costs, resulting in improved satisfaction for both consumers and health care professionals.
- Improve access to timely, actionable data to enhance patient care
- Physicians and health plans recognize the importance of leveraging data analytics to address gaps in care, achieve better outcomes and lower costs. Moreover, readily accessible data are critical for successful population health management.
- Streamline and/or eliminate low-value prior-authorization requirements
The AMA’s position is there are many ways to improve the prior authorization process, including by eliminating low-value requirements and devising policies to lessen delays and disruptions in continuity of care.