The Hartford, Conn.-based health insurer Aetna and the northern N.J.-based Atlantic Accountable Care Organization (ACO) have announced a new accountable care agreement that will aim to improve the coordination and delivery of patient care.
Atlantic ACO says it will deliver a better patient experience for more than 28,000 Aetna members in Morris, Sussex, Union, Somerset, Warren and Passaic counties in N.J. The ACO is a joint venture of Atlantic Health System and Valley Health System in N.J., and includes more than 1,700 primary care physicians and specialists.
- This agreement, officials say, includes a shared savings model that rewards Atlantic ACO physicians for meeting certain quality and efficiency measures such as:
- The percentage of Aetna members who receive recommended preventive care and screenings
- Better management of patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart failure
- Reductions in avoidable hospital readmission rates
- Reductions in unnecessary emergency room visits
“Simply stated, when hospitals and health plans work together, healthcare improves for the people we serve,” John Lawrence, president, Aetna – New Jersey, said in a statement. “Aetna will work closely with the ACO physicians to identify specific areas where we can either develop or improve on the sharing of specific, useful health information. In turn, the physicians will use this information to improve care for patients, close gaps in care and reduce waste. We are creating a continuous loop of improved information to drive better care. By working together, we can bring better health, better care and better cost to thousands of Aetna members beginning this spring.”
