TUFTS MEDICINE JOINS BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MASSACHUSETTS’ VALUE-BASED PAYMENT CONTRACT INCORPORATING EQUITY MEASURES

Greater than half of members now obtain care from suppliers collaborating in well being plan’s equity-focused fee contracts

BOSTON, Could 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (“Blue Cross”) at present introduced that Tufts Medicine is now a part of the well being plan’s pay-for-equity financial payment model. Blue Cross is the primary well being plan in Massachusetts — and among the many first within the nation — to introduce these contracts, which hyperlink monetary incentives to reaching measurable enhancements in well being fairness.

With the addition of Tufts Medication, 53% of Blue Cross’ Massachusetts members now obtain care from clinicians participating in these equity-focused value-based agreements. Tufts Medication joins 4 of the state’s different main well being methods who signed the agreements in December 2022: Steward Healthcare Network, Beth Israel Lahey Health, Mass General Brigham and Boston Accountable Care Organization, Inc.which is a part of Boston Medical Center.

“Resolving systemic inequities requires allyship, and it is our duty to work collectively with physicians and hospitals to enhance well being fairness,” mentioned Sarah IselinBlue Cross’ president and CEO. “By partaking one other of our state’s giant well being methods in these fee contracts, we’re one step nearer to a extra reasonably priced, equitable well being care system for our members.”

The Tufts Medication Built-in Community is comprised of two,300 major care and specialist physicians and superior observe clinicians, employed by Tufts Medication or working in personal observe, delivering care in hospitals and in the neighborhood. As a part of its settlement with Blue Cross, Tufts Medication will concentrate on decreasing inequities in colorectal most cancers screenings, diabetes care, hypertension, and baby and adolescent well-care visits.

“Throughout our system, we’re doing all the things we are able to to make well being care extra reasonably priced, accessible and equitable,” mentioned Tufts Medication CEO Michael Dandorph. “For greater than a decade, we’ve aligned high quality incentives inside our contracts. Fairness is one in every of our key high quality metrics, so together with this in our relationship with Blue Cross is a pure development and can guarantee continued superior outcomes for our sufferers.”

“Like Blue Cross, Tufts Medication is dedicated to bettering fairness and eliminating racial and ethnic inequities in care,” mentioned Dr. Mark Friedbergsenior vice chairman, efficiency measurement & enchancment at Blue Cross. “We’re delighted to be partnering with one other outstanding well being care system in Massachusetts as we work towards making measurable enhancements in well being fairness.”

Blue Cross’ dedication to well being fairness
As a part of its commitment to addressing health inequitiesBlue Cross gathers and publishes data each year for greater than 1.2 million of its industrial Massachusetts members. This information has revealed racial and ethnic inequities in lots of areas of affected person care. In partnership with the clinicians in its community, the well being plan is utilizing this information to make significant change and work towards the shared objective of eliminating racial disparities within the care Blue Cross members obtain.

As a part of that work, Blue Cross funded $25 million in Institute for Healthcare Improvement grants to help doctor practices and hospitals with Various High quality Contracts of their efforts to remove racial and ethnic inequities in care and share studying throughout establishments.

Blue Cross’ fairness work can also be mirrored within the communities it serves. In 2022, the well being plan provided greater than $13M in funding and pro-bono help to native not-for-profits centered on points together with environmental justice, entry to wholesome meals, and addressing structural causes of well being inequities.

About Blue Cross Blue Defend of Massachusetts
Blue Cross Blue Defend of Massachusetts (bluecrossma.org) is a community-focused, tax-paying, not-for-profit well being plan headquartered in Boston. We’re dedicated to the relentless pursuit of high quality, reasonably priced and equitable well being care with an unparalleled client expertise. In keeping with our promise to all the time put our members first, we’re rated among the many nation’s finest well being plans for member satisfaction and high quality. Join with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Defend of Massachusetts