Cigna and The Austin Diagnostic Clinic launched a collaborative care initiative to improve patient access to health care, enhance care coordination, and achieve the goal of improved health,affordability and patient experience.
Under the program, The Austin Diagnostic Clinic will monitor and coordinate all aspects of an individual’s medical care. Patients will continue to go to 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 with The Austin Diagnostic Clinic 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.
Critical to the program’s benefits are the registered nurse clinical care coordinators, employed by The Austin Diagnostic Clinic, who will help patients with chronic conditions or other health challenges navigate the health care system. The care coordinators are aligned with a team of Cigna case managers to ensure a high degree of collaboration between the medical group and Cigna, which will ultimately provide a better experience for the individual.
Cigna compensates The Austin Diagnostic Clinic for the medical and care coordination services doctors provide. Additionally, the Clinic may be rewarded through a “pay for value” structure for meeting targets for improving quality and lowering medical costs.
