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First year of a private insurance ACO demonstrates good results
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Sept. 12, 2011
Numbers tracking outcomes from the first 12 months of a collaborative accountable care program set up by Cigna and the Medical Clinic of North Texas, a physician group with 43 locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, are positive, according to the insurer.
According to a statement issued Aug. 31 by Cigna, when compared with other patients covered by the insurer in the region, those cared for by Medical Clinic of North Texas in 2010 reduced avoidable emergency department visits by seven percentage points. Medical costs declined by two percentage points, and the hospital readmission rate declined by two percentage points.
Baseline numbers were not released, but the program is expected to continue at this and other locations where Cigna has launched similar initiatives.
As part of the Cigna's ACO project, the company shared patient-specific data with the clinic to identify those in need of additional outreach and follow-up care. The clinic expanded office hours to improve patient access, and hospitalized patients were able to visit the clinic within 72 hours of discharge.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/09/12/bibf0912.htm.
