Aetna signs physician groups for accountable-care program

Health-insurance firm Aetna (NYSE: AET) announced on Monday it will collaborate with several health-care provider groups in Colorado to create a network for its accountable-care program, Aetna Whole Health.

In an accountable-care program, groups of health-care providers assume responsibility for the quality and cost of care for patients.

Aetna is collaborating with Banner Network Colorado, Colorado Health Neighborhoods, New West Physicians and Physician Health Partners as it introduces its Aetna Whole Health product in Colorado.

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The Aetna Whole Health – Colorado Front Range network will consist of more than 800 primary-care physicians, 4,000 specialists and 31 hospitals throughout the Front Range. The network will cover Aetna members in Boulder, Broomfield, Larimer, Weld Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson counties.

The product will be available for self- and fully insured customers starting Jan. 1.

Aetna said the collaboration will provide employers better health-care options for their employees. Aetna touts the new model as providing cost-savings to employees and personalized service for patients that will result in better health-care outcomes.

The agreement features a payment model to reward providers for meeting quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction measures including:

the percentage of members who get recommended preventive care and screenings;

better management of patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart failure;

reductions in avoidable hospital readmission rates;

and reductions in emergency-room visits.

“We are pleased that Banner Network Colorado has been selected by Aetna to serve the members of Aetna Whole Health in Larimer and Weld counties,” said Paul Kellogg, senior director for managed care in Banner Health’s Western Region, in a prepared statement. “The arrangement between Aetna and BNC is designed to enhance care and control costs through an emphasis on wellness and close coordination of care for members. Banner Health Network’s program with Aetna and its Aetna Whole Health product in Arizona has shown tremendous success for its members, and we’re confident we will see the same successful outcomes in northern Colorado.”