Boston Children's Hospital joins Blue Cross Blue Shield, Massachusetts' innovative payment program focused on improving health equity
First pediatric medical center in the nation signs value-based contract focused on: Eliminate disparities in care
boston, April 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts (“Blue Cross”) today announced that Boston Children's Hospital has become part of the health plan's equity-based compensation payment model. Blue Cross is the world's first health plan. Massachusetts This is the first country to introduce these contracts that link financial incentives to achieving measurable improvements in health equity.
Boston Children's Hospital, the first children's hospital in the nation to participate in this type of agreement, joins five of the state's major health systems that have signed the agreement: Tufts Medicine, Steward Healthcare Network, Beth Israel Lahey Health, Massachusetts General Brigham, and Boston Accountable). Care Organization Inc. is part of Boston Medical Center.
Adding Boston Children's, 56% of Blue Cross Massachusetts Members currently receive care from clinicians participating in equity-focused, value-based arrangements.
“Our children are literally our future, but we know that racial and ethnic inequities in health care are endangering that future in many ways.” . Sarah Iselin, Representative Director and President of Blue Cross. “We are very fortunate to be working with the experts at Boston Children’s Center, who are committed to closing these gaps and ensuring everyone has the care and support they need and deserve. and understand how to address the unique challenges of children and families.”
Boston Children's Hospital is home to the nation's largest pediatric primary care physician organization with more than 500 physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and general behavioral health providers. Through its collaboration with Blue Cross, Boston Children's will initially focus on reducing inequities in child and youth welfare visits.
“Health equity for all families is at the top of our goals here at Boston Children's Hospital, so this was a natural move for us,” he said. Kevin B. Churchwell, MD, President and CEO of Boston Children's Hospital. “This partnership with Blue Cross marks an important milestone in eliminating inequities in health care, and we look forward to continued collaboration in this area.”
“We work with healthcare provider organizations to promote and improve health equity,” he said. mark friedberg, Senior Vice President of Performance Measurement and Improvement at Blue Cross. “I'm fighting another big guy. Massachusetts Health systems, particularly those focused on pediatric care, are an important step toward measurably improving health equity. ”
Blue Cross Commitment to Health Equity
As part of our efforts to address health inequities, Blue Cross collects and publishes data for more than 1.2 million commercial properties each year. Massachusetts member. This data revealed racial and ethnic disparities in many areas of patient care. The health plan, in collaboration with clinicians in its network, is using this data to make meaningful changes and work toward eliminating racial disparities in the care available to Blue Cross members.
As part of that effort, Blue Cross is funding $25 million in Healthcare Improvement Institute grants to support alternative quality initiatives in efforts to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health care and share learning across the institution. We supported the medical practices and hospitals of doctors with whom we have contracts.
In a recent qualitative study, clinicians in Blue Cross' Equity Action Community, which provides opportunities for learning, collaboration, and financial support to healthcare organizations within Blue Cross' value-based network, find out how to address inequities in diabetes care. It turns out that we have developed a new way to do this. , heart disease, and other conditions.
About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (bluecrossma.org) is a community-focused, tax-funded, not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Boston. We are committed to showing up to everyone as if they were the only one and ensuring our members have access to the excellent health care they deserve, affordably, equitably, and seamlessly. . We remain committed to that commitment and are recognized as one of the nation's best health plans for member satisfaction and quality. Connect with us on Facebook twitterYouTube, LinkedIn.
Source Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts
