Jefferson Health System, based in Radnor, Pa., has announced a multiyear shared savings agreement with Keystone First, a Blue Cross Medical Assistance product.
Jefferson Health System members include Main Line Health in Radnor and Philadelphia-based providers Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals and Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, and the system manages the shared savings agreement under the auspices of the Accountable Care Organization of Pennsylvania, Inc.
"Keystone First provides a critical health coverage safety net to the citizens of southeastern Pennsylvania. JHS is pleased to share in that mission," David Simon, executive vice president of JHS and president of ACO-PA, said in the news release. "Our groundbreaking accountable care collaboration with Keystone First gives both organizations the data and tools to better monitor care and effect meaningful change for our hospitals."
The agreement uses Keystone First's proprietary value-based incentive program, which is based on quality metrics and financial rewards for fulfilling benchmarks. The program is designed to foster adherence to evidence-based clinical protocols.
JHS and Keystone First agreed to certain quality metrics, according to the release, including:
• Potentially preventable hospital admissions
• Potentially preventable readmissions
• Neonatal intensive care unit length of stays
• Percent of patients who receive all recommended treatments based on clinical condition
• Low-acuity emergency department visits
"By rewarding providers for better outcomes and efficiency, we help keep our members healthier and, as a result, out of the hospital and emergency room. JHS serves tens of thousands of Keystone First members each year, and this collaboration will help Keystone First, JHS and ACO-PA provide more effective and efficient care," Russell Gianforcaro, executive director of Keystone First, said in the release.
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