Partnership promotes new model of health care

BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina has partnered with a variety of of public and private groups to promote the idea of patient-centered medical homes in the hopes of improving health and saving money.

In addition to BlueCross, the Patient-Centered Medical Home Alliance announced Monday includes BlueChoice HealthPlan, the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, the South Carolina Medical Association, the South Carolina Primary Health Care Association and the South Carolina Office of Rural Health.

The way health care is provided is changing from a fee-for-service model to one that is based on outcomes. So health care providers will be reimbursed on how well patients are doing instead of how many services they provide.