Health insurer Aetna and Harrisburg, Pa.-based PinnacleHealth System have announced a new accountable care agreement that will create fully insured and self-insured health plans using PinnacleHealth locations and physicians.
The collaboration aims to create a more coordinated patient experience, save employees money when they use PinnacleHealth-aligned providers and improve healthcare outcomes, according to the news release. As part of the agreement, PinnacleHealth committed to quality and cost outcomes for Aetna members. Aetna and the system agreed to quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction metrics.
The first product, for employers with 51 or more employees, will be available April 1, 2014. A second product for groups with 50 or less workers will be available July 1, 2014.
"PinnacleHealth continually works to find solutions for our community, including its businesses. We are one of the lowest-cost providers in the state, yet we offer care that's nationally recognized for its high quality. This is a great opportunity for us to use both attributes to help employers manage healthcare costs and contribute to their employees' health," Michael Young, president and CEO of PinnacleHealth, said in the release.
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