Cigna and the Baton Rouge Clinic have launched a collaborative accountable care initiative to improve patient access to health care, enhance care coordination and achieve the “triple aim” of improved health, affordability and patient experience. Collaborative accountable care is Cigna's approach to accomplishing the same population health goals as accountable care organizations, or ACOs. The program, which took effect January 1, 2014, will benefit individuals covered by a Cigna health plan who receive care from Baton Rouge Clinic’s nearly 50 primary care doctors and more than 40 specialists.
Under the program, the Baton Rouge Clinic will monitor and coordinate all aspects of an individual’s medical care. Patients will continue to be treated by their current physician and automatically receive the benefits of the program. Individuals who are enrolled in a Cigna health plan and later choose to seek care from a doctor in the medical group 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 support a blended payment model, using fee for service, enhanced care coordination fee for enhanced medical home care and outcomes based payment adjustment for improvements in quality and affordability of care.
