In order to keep up with the continuum of care emphasized in the healthcare reform law, many hospitals have started their own health plans, and New Mexico's oldest hospital may be joining that mix, according to an Albuquerque Journal report.
Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, a 265-bed sole community provider in Santa Fe, N.M., may branch out with its own health insurance arm, though executives and board members emphasized they are in "the infancy of the discussion," according to the report.
Christus St. Vincent CEO Alex Valdez told the Albuquerque Journal that the hospital has to weigh the option of starting its own health plan because reform is prompting providers to care more for the preventive health of their entire service area rather than focusing on payment for every service.
"I'm not saying we're going to do this ourselves, but we need to develop the discipline it requires," Mr. Valdez said in the report. "Under healthcare reform, we're going to have to establish a close relationship with health insurers and providers."
Since this past November, four major health systems have announced plans to dip their toes into the health insurance waters: Fountain Valley, Calif.-based MemorialCare Health System, Piedmont Healthcare and WellStar Health System in the greater Atlanta region, and the Volusia/Flagler division of Florida Hospital, headquartered in Daytona Beach.
Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, a 265-bed sole community provider in Santa Fe, N.M., may branch out with its own health insurance arm, though executives and board members emphasized they are in "the infancy of the discussion," according to the report.
Christus St. Vincent CEO Alex Valdez told the Albuquerque Journal that the hospital has to weigh the option of starting its own health plan because reform is prompting providers to care more for the preventive health of their entire service area rather than focusing on payment for every service.
"I'm not saying we're going to do this ourselves, but we need to develop the discipline it requires," Mr. Valdez said in the report. "Under healthcare reform, we're going to have to establish a close relationship with health insurers and providers."
Since this past November, four major health systems have announced plans to dip their toes into the health insurance waters: Fountain Valley, Calif.-based MemorialCare Health System, Piedmont Healthcare and WellStar Health System in the greater Atlanta region, and the Volusia/Flagler division of Florida Hospital, headquartered in Daytona Beach.
More Articles on Hospitals and Health Plans:
Indiana CO-OP May Ask State Health Systems for Funding
Inova Health System Buys Medicaid Health Plan
Florida Hospital to Launch Health Plan in 2014