Dive Brief:
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois has announced the formation of four new accountable care partnerships with provider groups, aimed at simultaneously improving patient outcomes while also reducing healthcare costs.
- The new agreements will impact a combined total of more than 111,000 patients.
- These latest ACOs brings BCBSIL's total to nine, since it launched its first in 2010 with Advocate Health Care, the state's largest hospital healthcare system.
Dive Insight:
BCBSIL is building on a foundation of proven success, the company says. Its first ACO, which it says is the nation's largest commercial ACO to date, is now in its fifth year.
The company reports that during the first three years of that agreement, the medical cost trend was reduced by 6% compared to the rest of BCBSIL's PPO population in the market. In addition to cost savings, the ACO saw improved patient outcomes including lower readmission rates.
The four new ACOs are with the following partners:
- Kane County Independent Physician Association, a physicians group
- Alexian Brothers Health Systems, a five-hospital network based in Arlington Heights
- North Shore University Health System, a four-hospital network based in Evanston
- Presence Health, a system with 11 hospitals across the state
Want to read more? You may enjoy this story about whether physician-led ACOs can keep physicians independent, which examines the partnership between BCBS and the Texas Medical Association.