Aetna and Chicago-based Rush Health plan to launch a first-of-its-kind accountable care organization in Illinois.
Dubbed "Aetna Whole Health Chicago," the commercial ACO will allow Aetna beneficiaries to choose if they would like to participate in the program, rather than be moved into it and opting out.
Members who choose to participate will have access to team-based, "highly coordinated care," from Rush's 1,300 physicians. Premiums under the ACO will be 8 percent to 15 percent lower than those for Aetna's PPO.
Under the program, physicians will be rewarded based on their ability to meet quality and efficiency benchmarks. Factored performance indicators include the percentage of patients referred to preventive care and screenings, management of patients with chronic conditions, and emergency room and readmission rates.
The product will be available to self-insured and fully insured businesses Nov. 1. Self-insured plans will start March 1, 2016 and fully insured plans will be effective April l, 2016.
The companies expect to offer the plan on the health insurance exchange by 2017.
More articles on accountable care:
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