The New York City-based Mount Sinai Health System and MagnaCare, an administrative services organization serving self-insured employers, are partnering to develop a Center of Excellence program for total joint replacement surgery. The initiative is designed to enhance patient care and experience, while also reducing costs for health plan sponsors and their members, according to officials who made an announcement this week.
Through the partnership, the New York-based MagnaCare will aim to guide its clients’ eligible members to preferred Mount Sinai facilities and providers for total joint replacement procedures. Mount Sinai clinicians will perform the surgery and all associated services—from pre-surgical office visits to follow-up care and physical therapy—under a single, bundled payment.
In addition, each member will be connected to a Mount Sinai Care Guide who will provide personalized support designed to help members navigate their care journey, including providing information about their procedure, coordinating any pre-surgery testing requirements, and securing free transportation and other post-surgery needs, according to officials.
Mount Sinai is an integrated healthcare system encompassing the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, eight hospital campuses in the New York metropolitan area and a large, regional ambulatory footprint. The health system has been awarded Advanced Certification in Total Hip and Knee Replacement surgery from the Joint Commission.
“We are convinced Centers of Excellence are a better way to provide complex, scheduled surgical services, and we’re proud to partner with MagnaCare to launch this new program,” said Lucas Pauls, labor lead for Mount Sinai Health Partners. “By working together, we can ensure access to high-quality care for joint replacement while eliminating surprise bills and confusion about benefits or out-of-pocket costs.”
Michelle Zettergren, president of labor at MagnaCare, added, “Our customers rely on MagnaCare to develop innovative solutions that deliver better service, improved health outcomes, and enhanced value for their members. By partnering with Mount Sinai to develop a Center of Excellence for total joint replacement surgery, we can promote positive patient outcomes while removing much of the burden and financial uncertainty that so often come with complex care. Members will have peace of mind knowing that they’re in good hands and won’t have to deal with unpredictable or out-of-network costs.”
