Humana and physicians at UT Medicine revealed Friday they have reached an accountable care agreement that will reward doctors who are able to improve patient care.
UT Medicine is the medical practice arm of the University of Texas Health Science Center’s medical school in San Antonio.
Under the arrangement, patients covered by Humana commercial health insurance will have in-network access to the 55 primary care physicians at UT Medicine. This includes Humana customers with health insurance through local employers and self-purchased HumanaOne health plans both inside and outside the government marketplace.
Accountable care arrangements offer financial incentives to physicians who are able to show that their patients’ health has improved. Such programs are a shift away from traditional compensation based on the volume of medical procedures and tests that physicians perform.
The endeavor will measure four indicators in patients with Humana commercial health plans — long-term average blood glucose tests for diabetics; breast cancer screenings; monitoring patients’ medication compliance; and avoiding antibiotics in adults with acute bronchitis. Physicians who succeed will be rewarded financially by Humana.
Such arrangements aim to the curb rising health care costs, reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and avoidable hospital admissions, and improve patient care.
UT Medicine has six primary care offices: the Medical Arts & Research Center at 8300 Floyd Curl Drive; Medical Drive Primary Care at 3939 Medical Drive; UT Medicine Westover Hills at 11212 Texas 151; UT Medicine Senior Health at 2829 Babcock Road; Family Health Center and General Medicine Clinic, both at 903 W. Martin St.
Date: September 25, 2015