Aetna, Cigna Announce Accountable Care Initiatives

Modern Healthcare by Melanie Evans –

October 17, 2012:

Two major insurers separately announced new accountable care initiatives.

Aetna said it entered into a risk-sharing accountable care contract with PrimeCare Medical Network, a group of independent physician organizations in California.

Meanwhile, Cigna Corp. has added nine new ACOs and expanded its accountable care efforts into Nevada and Oregon. Cigna’s total ACO count now stands at 42.

Cigna’s latest accountable care organizations include partnerships with Banner Health Network, Phoenix; Brown & Toland Physicians, San Francisco; the Integrated Physician Network, Louisville, Colo., and MedSouth, Littleton, Colo.; New Haven (Conn.) Community Medical Group and Day Kimball Healthcare, Putnam, Conn.; HealthCare Partners, Las Vegas; Synergy HealthCare, Nashville; and Legacy Health, Portland. Ore.

Under Cigna’s accountable care agreements, the insurer will pay providers for medical and care-coordination services, and providers will be eligible for performance-based payments tied to quality and cost targets.

In July, Cigna and Tenet Healthcare Corp. said they had renewed a coverage agreement that will enable independent doctors in Tenet ACOs and clinically integrated organizations to receive pay-for-performance, bundled and patient-centered medical-home reimbursement.

Source: John & Rusty Report via Cal Choice