Cigna has joined forces with physicians affiliated with Boulder (Colo.) Community Hospital's Community Medical Associates to launch a collaborative accountable care initiative, the payer's version of an accountable care organization.
Community Medical Associates clinics are owned and operated by BCM and located throughout Boulder County. More than 80 physicians are affiliated with Community Medical Associates, and the CAC initiative will cover about 4,500 Cigna patients who receive care from those physicians.
"Patients will benefit from this more collaborative approach that makes them a full partner in their own healthcare," Jamie Jensen, BMC's COO for physician clinics, said in the news release. "While preventive care is more important for everyone, improved coordination of services will be especially valuable for our most vulnerable populations, those with chronic illnesses or medically complex conditions."
As part of the CAC initiative, the physicians will coordinate all aspects of a patient's care. Registered nurses, employed by Community Medical Associates, will act as care coordinators. The care coordinators are aligned with a team of Cigna case managers to make collaboration easier.
Cigna will provide patient-specific data to providers to help identify at-risk patients and coordinate care. The payer will also compensate the providers for their medical and care coordination services, and the physicians can receive financial rewards for meeting quality and cost targets.
This is Cigna's 75th CAC initiative and its sixth in Colorado.
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