Regence, Adventist Health Announce Next Step in Collaborative Care Initiatives

PORTLAND, Ore., April 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and Adventist Health have taken another step in advancing the health of patients and their experience with the Adventist health care system. Regence and Adventist are collaborating on an innovative payment model to deliver better health outcomes and lower health care costs.  This is Regence's first accountable health care initiative in Oregon and one of many arrangements in development within the Regence family of companies in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Utah.

The program with Adventist Health's physicians includes a shared incentive arrangement in which Adventist Health and Regence will work together to share data and measure quality in an effort to improve health care outcomes for Regence members cared for at Adventist Health.

"Regence is committed to transforming the health care system through innovative collaborative care programs," said Richard Popiel, M.D., executive vice president of Health Care Services and chief medical officer for Regence. "Adventist Health is a strong partner, who invests in population health to meet the Triple Aim goals of improving the experience of care, improving the health of populations, and reducing per-capita costs of health care. It is exciting to be working with a partner deeply committed to the care of its patients."

This new initiative is part of a suite of innovative reimbursement models offered by Regence to address the quality and affordability of health care services for its members. Since 2007, Regence has worked with providers and employers throughout its four-state region to implement collaborative care models, including the Intensive Outpatient Care Program (IOCP) in Washington. The IOCP was a pilot program between Regence BlueShield in Washington and one of its large customers that demonstrated the following positive results as reported by an independent third party vendor: 

• Per-capita spending on health care was reduced by 20 percent
• Physical and mental functioning ability increased almost 15 percent
• Access to health care increased almost 18 percent

In Oregon, Regence has collaborated with providers, such as Adventist Health, and employers to implement similar programs. Adventist Health is ranked as one of America's Safest Hospitals, and is an important provider in Regence's Oregon Select network, which provides Regence members with quality care and monthly premium affordability.

"We are pleased to further our collaboration with Adventist Health to improve health outcomes for our members and to support the physician-patient relationship that's critical to the transformation of the health care system," said Don Antonucci, president of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon.

"We are looking forward to a healthy collaboration with Regence which will bring value, access and quality care to patients and is firmly grounded in our mission of whole person care," states Tom Russell, President and CEO of Adventist Health-Portland. "This accountable care relationship will allow our providers increased transparency around utilization and quality measures."

Regence is currently developing additional collaborative arrangements with doctors and hospitals in a variety of ways that adapt to and support the readiness of providers to engage in these models. The company will soon announce new collaborative care arrangements in other states.

By providing a full suite of engagement models, Regence is able to foster a more collaborative, person-focused health care system to improve the health of communities and keep care affordable.

About Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon is a leading health plan in Oregon, with nearly 750,000 members, offering health, life and dental insurance. Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon is a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, and is affiliated with Regence BlueShield of Idaho, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah and Regence BlueShield (selected counties in Washington). Together, the companies serve more than two million members in the Northwest/Intermountain Region. The Regence affiliated companies are committed to improving the health of its members and communities, and to transforming the health care system. For more information, please visit www.regence.com or www.twitter.com/RegenceOregon.

About Adventist Health-Portland
Adventist Health-Portland includes Adventist Medical Center (AMC), located in southeast Portland, a nonprofit, 302-bed acute care facility, offering a full range of inpatient, outpatient and emergency services throughout the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area. It has been ranked as one of America's Safest Hospitals and is in the top 5% nationwide for patient safety. Adventist Health-Portland also operates more than 30 primary care and specialty clinics in the metro area. The organization is represented by nearly 2,000 employees and 500 physicians who choose to treat and admit their patients into the Adventist Health Network of services.

Adventist Health-Portland is part of Adventist Health, a faith-based, not-for-profit integrated health care delivery system serving communities in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington. Our workforce of 28,900 includes more than 21,200 employees; 4,500 medical staff physicians; and 3,200 volunteers. Founded on Seventh-day Adventist health values, Adventist Health provides compassionate care in 19 hospitals, more than 170 clinics (hospital-based, rural health and physician clinics), 14 home care agencies, six hospice agencies and four joint-venture retirement centers. We invite you to visit www.adventisthealthnw.com for more information.

SOURCE Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon