In today's Arizona Daily Star, the headline reads, "New 'accountable' model of health care expands here." I mentioned in class that TMC had an ACO, called Arizona Connected Care. The CIO is a UA Masters in MIS alum, Michael Griffis. You can check him out on LinkedIn. (Maybe there's a project there for some of you.)
Arizona Connected Care, is what's known as an "accountable care organization." It is the only accountable care organization in Southern Arizona, and it's the first markets where UnitedHealthcare is partnering with an ACO.
At least three accountable care organizations are operating in Arizona. Patients do not need to do anything to participate. As long as their care providers are part of Arizona Connected Care, they will see no changes other than more follow-up and attention from providers in the organization.
The article goes on to say that thousands of Southern Arizonans enrolled in UnitedHealthcare "will soon be able to get care through a unique local business that's intended to contain spiraling medical costs by giving patients more attention." The goal is fewer chronically ill patients and fewer hospital readmissions.
"Monitoring patients after they are discharged can help keep them from falling through the cracks and improve communication between various providers like a hospital, nursing home, physical therapist and rehab center," officials say.
Read more from the article, and check out Arizona Connected Care.
Read more from the article, and check out Arizona Connected Care.
I think my wife is getting something like this through United. I have to double check with her, but she got a call the other day from United Healthcare where they asked her some questions and signed her up for this "healthy pregnancy" program. Not sure if this is anything similar, but I thought it was pretty cool. Especially since it doesn't cost us anything :)
ReplyDeleteCan we discuss how this affects the costs for other insurance customers or patients? It seems that this would increase the cost for others, since patients are able to take advantage of lower costs.
ReplyDeleteOther insurance providers are included for the doctors that accept them. But if you are on United Healthcare you can take advantage of doctors coordinating care across the ACO. (Sorry I missed this comment, Scott). I'll make sure I'm subscribed to email.
ReplyDelete