Over six months, several Highmark providers have succeeded in improving quality measures 26 percent while reducing spending by $11.5 million, according to a report from the Pittsburgh Business Times.
The findings are the first from Pittsburgh-based Highmark's pay-for-performance program, which rewards quality, rather than quantity, of care. Data from more than 147,000 patients in the insurer's patient-centered medical home and Accountable Care Alliance was considered in the analysis.
"While the time period is somewhat limited, we think it is important to tell members in our core markets that the trends are very positive. These numbers demonstrate that the programs are working," said Mike Fiaschetti, Highmark's president of health markets, in a prepared statement to the Pittsburgh Business Times.