Cigna and University Hospitals Accountable Care Organization (UHACO) have launched a collaborative accountable care initiative to enhance care coordination and achieve the “triple aim” of improved health, affordability and patient experience for Cigna customers.
Collaborative accountable care is Cigna's approach to accomplishing the same population health goals for its customers as UHACO has been achieving for University Hospitals’ employees since it was launched in 2011. The program will benefit approximately 10,000 people covered by a Cigna health plan who receive care from the 1,500 primary care physicians and specialists employed by University Hospitals (UH) in the Cleveland area.
University Hospitals is a national leader in accountable care with more than 160,000 self-insured, commercially insured, Medicare and Medicaid members and beneficiaries, making it one of the largest ACO providers in the country and one of the few providing coordinated care, disease management and case management services to all populations, from infants to senior citizens.
Patients will continue to be treated by their current physician and automatically receive the benefits of the program at no additional cost. Under the program, UHACO resources will monitor and coordinate care on behalf of UH physicians and their patients. Individuals who are enrolled in a Cigna health plan and later choose to seek care from a UH doctor will also have access to the benefits of the program. There are no changes in any plan requirements regarding referrals to specialists. Patients most likely to see the immediate benefits of the program are those who need help managing chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
Cigna will compensate physicians for the medical and care coordination services it provides. Additionally, the medical group may be rewarded through a “pay for performance” structure if it meets targets for improving quality and lowering medical costs
