Health insurer Cigna and Hartford, Conn.-based Saint Francis HealthCare Partners, a joint venture between Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center and about 900 care providers, have launched a collaborative accountable care initiative, Cigna's version of an accountable care organization.
The new partnership, effective Oct. 1, will cover about 20,000 patients covered by a Cigna plan who receive care from a Saint Francis HealthCare Partners provider.
As part of the program, Saint Francis HealthCare Partners will coordinate care for patients through clinical care coordinators — registered nurses employed by Saint Francis HealthCare Partners. The coordinators will use patient-specific data from Cigna to enhance care quality.
Cigna will pay Saint Francis HealthCare Partners for the medical care and care coordination services they provide. Additionally, Saint Francis HealthCare Partners can receive payment under a pay-for-value system if providers meet certain quality and cost targets.
This is not the only accountable care contract Saint Francis HealthCare partners has: the joint venture joined the Medicare Shared Savings Program in January.
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