UnitedHealthcare Assists Phoenix Children’s Value-Based Care Goals
A new initiative between UnitedHealthcare and Phoenix Children’s Care Network (PCCN) leverages data sharing to promote the health system’s value-based care goals.
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By - UnitedHealthcare and Phoenix Children’s Care Network (PCCN) have launched an accountable care program aimed at a lowering costs and improving care quality.
UnitedHealthcare will share data with PCCN to inform providers of a patient’s medical needs, previous treatments, gaps in care, medications prescribed, and a patient’s future care needs.
Data-sharing practices between UnitedHealthcare and PCCN will help both organizations to identify high-risk patients, reduce ED admissions, manage chronic diseases, and improve patients’ medication adherence. About 50,000 beneficiaries enrolled in UnitedHealthcare’s Medicaid plans will be eligible to receive care under this program.
Casey Osborne, Vice President of PCCN, said that the accountable care program will allow PCCN to increase their value-based care capabilities across larger patient populations.
"Our physician-led clinically integrated network of over 1000 physicians combined with robust population health analytics and our comprehensive care management program gives participating PCCN practices the ability to increase quality and efficiency while reducing redundancy and health care costs," Osborne said.
"We are enhancing care coordination across care settings, and our new accountable care relationship with UnitedHealthcare enables PCCN to provide improved care to more patients in our community.
The new collaboration falls in line with PCCN’s efforts to work alongside payers to create strong value-based care environments.
Chad Johnson, Senior VP and Executive Director of PCCN, said that payer collaboration is needed for so that providers can move away from fee-for-service payments towards value-based payments.
“If you want to transition to value, you must find a payer that is willing to take the journey with you and hammer out those new roles for both of you,” Johnson told HealthITAnalytics.com earlier in 2017.
Data is a key part of creating reciprocal relationships between payers and providers, said Johnson.
“Before we invest in these models – before we even start the contracting discussions – we need to have full data disclosure and full claims transparency between us and the insurance company for the population we’re targeting,” he said. “We all need to see the same things and agree on exactly what they mean. And that takes trust.”
Currently, UnitedHealthcare has 15 million beneficiaries enrolled in plans with access to accountable care programs, and expects their value-based payments to eclipse $65 billion by the end of 2018.
Leaders at UnitedHealthcare expressed their enthusiasm for the accountable care program, which will continue the growth of their value-based care investments.
"UnitedHealthcare and PCCN are committed to ensuring children have access to the quality care they need and deserve," said Joseph Gaudio, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Arizona. "By collaborating with PCCN, we can create a more connected health care experience, help improve patient care and enhance people's ability to live healthier lives."
