CONTACT: Bill Riley | briley@medadvgrp.com
ANN ARBOR, Michigan, August 1, 2014 – Eighty statewide Consortium of Independent Physician Associations (CIPA) primary care physician practices were recently designated as Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMH) by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM). The practices, guided through the PCMH process by CIPA’s managing company, Medical Advantage (MAG), were recognized for their successful efforts at leading patients’ overall care. The designation period runs from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015.
“MAG’s consultants guided practices via a comprehensive approach to the patient experience, with a focus on evidence-based care, to enable physicians’ patients to meet their health goals and keep track of all their specialist visits, test results and prescriptions,” said Paul MacLellan, CEO of MAG. “A PCMH-designated practice exhibits the highest quality healthcare services so patients may achieve and maintain optimal health.”
In a PCMH, the patient’s physician (primary care, internist or pediatrician) leads their care team. Plus, the medical home supports the approach to delivering and organizing primary care that helps achieve the goals of the Triple Aim: Improve the experience of care, improve the health of populations, and reduce per capita costs of healthcare.
In addition, a medical home maintains and tracks patient’s health records (including visits with specialists, test results and prescriptions ordered by other physicians). Patients have 24-hour access to their PCMH, a benefit that can keep patients out of the emergency room.
Established in 2005, CIPA is a pay-for performance network that currently includes 40 client organizations, approximately 1,000 physicians, and within the last three years, has distributed more than $10 million in incentive payments to physicians and physician organizations.
BCBSM has designated roughly 1,420 primary care practices — with more than 4,020 primary care doctors — as PCMH practices. The program is the largest of its kind in the country and has the potential to affect close to 2 million Michigan residents.
About Medical Advantage
Medical Advantage simplifies the delivery of efficient, high-quality healthcare for medical practices, health centers, physician organizations, hospitals and health systems. Medical Advantage helps doctors navigate the shifting healthcare landscape by providing the resources needed to deliver better patient care in the new value-based healthcare economy. Medical Advantage has two decades of expertise managing physician organizations and ACOs. Its ACO clients have demonstrated success in improving quality measures and reducing costs of care in Medicare’s Shared Savings Plan. Medical Advantage manages the Consortium of Independent Physician Associations as well as Professional Medical Corporation. To learn more, visit www.medicaladvantage.com.
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