Humana, Mercy Launch Accountable Care Partnership

Humana and Chesterfield, Mo.-based Mercy have announced the two organizations will partner to develop an accountable care organization that is intended to improve health outcomes for Humana Medicare Advantage members in southwest Missouri.

Along with coordinated care from the Mercy team in southwest Missouri, Humana Medicare Advantage members will benefit from Mercy's larger network whenever they travel in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma. Under the new agreement, Humana Medicare Advantage members' medical records will be instantly available at Mercy's 33 hospitals, 700 outpatient facilities and to more than 2,100 physicians.

"The accountable care agreement with Humana leverages our two primary strengths — the ability of our healthcare team to coordinate care for our patients and our broad geographic reach, which allows for widespread access," said Jim Rogers, MD, Mercy vice president for adult primary care, in the news release.

As part of the ACO, Humana will offer value-based incentives that align provider rewards with patient health. "Our arrangement with Mercy has solid potential to drive down costs and improve outcomes through aligned financial incentives," said Beth West, senior products director for Humana, in the news release.

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