WILMINGTON, N.C. – New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC), Wilmington Health (WH) and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) have agreed to launch an Accountable Care Alliance to enhance care and provide greater value for health care consumers in Southeastern North Carolina. The first of its kind in North Carolina, this unique collaboration brings together a leading hospital system, independent multi-specialty clinics and an insurer to better meet the health care needs of patients.
The Alliance is based on an Accountable Care Organization (ACO), a model that BCBSNC and health care providers have adopted and launched across North Carolina as a way to provide high quality, coordinated and efficient care for patients. The Alliance, like the ACO model, will establish a payment structure that focuses on providing high-quality care while reining in medical costs.
The Alliance serves patients across their health care experience – from a wellness visit, during surgery, to an unforeseen trip to the ER. NHRMC, BCBSNC and Wilmington Health will work as a team to coordinate care, align resources and share information that helps streamline processes and improve the overall patient experience. The groups will work together to reveal gaps in care such as skipped prescriptions or missed disease screenings that may lead to preventable ER visits. The Alliance’s collaborative approach helps to avoid duplicate tests and services, while focusing on the patient to ensure they receive the most effective care based on best practices.
Over the next several months, the structure of the Alliance will take shape to focus on four key areas: quality of care, patient satisfaction, access to care and affordability. Patients and employers will benefit in a number of ways:
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Date: September 10, 2013