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Penn State Health Care Partners chosen as accountable care organization
Larry Portzline//February 17, 2015//
Penn State Health Care Partners chosen as accountable care organization
Larry Portzline//February 17, 2015//
Listen to this articleThe network will serve more than 27,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Berks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Schuylkill and York counties, officials said.
The partnership was formed through a collaboration of four regional health care organizations: Lancaster-based Physicians Alliance LTD, Reading-based St. Joseph Regional Health Network, Integrated Medical Group and Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, ACOs show improved quality of care within the first two years, including beneficiaries’ rating of their doctors.
“Patients have very straightforward expectations of their health care providers,” said Dr. Bill Bird, medical director for Penn State Health Care Partners and professor of family and community medicine at Penn State College of Medicine. “They want good communication, access to care when they need it and high-quality care that is seamlessly coordinated. This model enhances the care team’s ability to deliver on those expectations while enabling us to be ongoing advocates for the continued good health of our patients.”
“Medicare patients are asked to navigate an increasingly complex health care system to get their care, particularly if they have chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure or diabetes,” said Sean Reynolds, interim executive director for Penn State Health Care Partners and director of the St. Joseph Provider Health Organization. “The fundamental goal of Penn State Health Care Partners is to make it easier for patients to get well-coordinated, timely, high-quality care. In the long run this approach will improve outcomes, enhance the patient experience and ultimately reduce cost.”
Hershey spokesman Sean Young said the new venture is not related to Derry Township-based Penn State Health’s planned acquisition of St. Joseph Regional Health Network.
In all, 405 shared savings program ACOs currently serve more than 7.2 million beneficiaries nationwide.
