On Monday, Florida Blue and Baptist Health Care Corporation announce the execution of an ACO agreement that aims to improve the quality and efficiency of patient care in northwest Florida.
Through this arrangement, the organizations plan to improve the patient experience by enhancing the coordination of care between BHC and Florida Blue. Built around the Baptist Medical Group (BMG) network of physicians, the BHC accountable care organization will provide coordinated care to patients with the goal of eliminating unnecessary spending and improving their patients’ health status by seamlessly sharing information and meeting quality targets.
The ACO will launch on Oct. 1, 2014 utilizing a value-based compensation model that rewards quality and efficiency and serve as another example of Florida Blue’s payment innovation efforts being deployed across the state.
“We are pleased to launch an accountable care relationship with Baptist Health Care,” said Kirk Fischer, vice president of Delivery System for Florida Blue. “Both organizations realize the importance of honing their population health management capabilities for improved outcomes. This relationship will be highly beneficial to our members in northwest Florida.”
“Baptist Medical Group and the entire organization are proud to partner with Florida Blue in its Accountable Provider Organization program,” said Dan Sontheimer, M.D., senior vice president and chief transformation officer of BHC. “Baptist Health Care is committed to our vision to be the best health system in America. This partnership allows BMG to partner with Florida Blue in attaining the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Triple Aim goal of transforming the delivery of healthcare.”
