RIPCPC, UnitedHealthcare create accountable care organization

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island Primary Care Physicians Corporation is teaming up with UnitedHealthcare of New England to create an accountable care organization to improve care coordination and provide enhanced health services for more than 15,000 Rhode Island residents enrolled in UnitedHealthcare’s employer-sponsored health plans.
This new accountable care organization will help continue shifting Rhode Island’s health care system to one that rewards quality and value rather than the volume of procedures performed, according to a press release from the organizations.
A total of 130 primary care physicians will manage all aspects of patients’ care, and will receive regular patient updates, enabling them to monitor the care patients are receiving, and enhancing RIPCPC’s patient-management capabilities.
RIPCPC’s care providers will be eligible to receive payment incentives based on evidence-based measures such as hospital readmission rates, disease management and prevention, patient safety and care delivery, as well as total cost savings and patient satisfaction.
“We have long partnered with UnitedHealthcare to apply our expertise in health care innovation and patient-centered programs to improve the health of its plan participants and the broader Rhode Island community,” Dr. Al Puerini, president and CEO, RIPCPC, said in a statement. “Together, we can continue to increase patient engagement to achieve better health outcomes and improve patient satisfaction, while reducing the overall cost of care.”
UnitedHealthcare employer-sponsored plan participants who currently receive care from RIPCPC-affiliated care providers will not have to do anything differently to receive benefits of this new organization that include enhanced care coordination and follow-up care.
“Our collaborative relationship with RIPCPC has helped improve the quality of care for our plan participants for many years while reducing health care costs,” Stephen J. Farrell, president and CEO, UnitedHealthcare of New England, said in a statement. “We have piloted programs to help people better manage chronic illness and enhanced the effectiveness of personal health tracking devices to improve their health. We look forward to expanding ways we can help our plan participants live healthier lives.”

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