Cigna's collaboration with Fairfax Family Practice Centers is believed to be the first patient-centered accountable care program in Northern Virginia involving a family medical practice and a health plan. The program will benefit approximately 9,700 individuals covered by a Cigna health plan who receive care from among 100 health care professionals at 12 practice locations.
Fairfax Family Practice Centers will monitor and coordinate all aspects of an individual's medical care. Patients will continue to go to their current physician and will not need to do anything to receive the benefits of the program. There also 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 or heart disease.
Critical to the program's benefits are registered nurses, employed by Fairfax Family Practice Centers, who serve as clinical care coordinators and help patients with chronic conditions or other health challenges navigate the health care system. The care coordinators will enhance care by using patient-specific data from both organizations to identify patients being discharged from the hospital who might be at-risk for readmission, as well as patients who may be overdue for important health screenings or who may have skipped a prescription refill. The care coordinators are part of the physician-led care team that helps patients get the follow-up care or screenings they need, identify any issues related to medications and help prevent chronic conditions from worsening.
Cigna will compensate Fairfax physicians for the medical and care coordination services they provide. Additionally, the practice may be rewarded through a “pay for performance” structure if it meets targets for improving quality and lowering medical costs
