Aetna, Memorial Hermann Form Accountable Care Collaboration In Harris, Fort Bend And Montgomery Counties

Aetna (NYSE: AET), Memorial Hermann Health System and the MHMD Memorial Hermann Physician Network today announced an accountable care collaboration which is anticipated to be available on April 1 in Harris, Montgomery and Fort Bend counties. This new agreement will give Aetna members access to highly coordinated care from physicians and facilities in the Memorial Hermann Accountable Care Network.

“Aetna is committed to changing the health care system from one that focuses on volume to one that focuses on quality of care and affordability,” said Joseph M. Zubretsky, Aetna senior executive vice president and chief financial officer who also leads the company’s strategic diversification businesses. “Our agreement with Memorial Hermann Health System and MHMD Memorial Hermann Physician Network will ensure that our members receive care that helps them live healthier, more productive lives.”

The accountable care collaboration will give employers better health care options for their employees, and will feature a new model of health care delivery designed to offer:

• A more coordinated, personalized experience for patients;
• Cost savings to employees who use providers in the Accountable Care Network; and
• Better health care outcomes.

Accountable care models drive focus on more coordinated care

An accountable care collaboration is a group of health care providers who assume responsibility for the quality and cost of care for a group of patients. Aetna members will receive an enhanced level of coordinated care in addition to the member benefits of their current Aetna plan.

New payment agreements reward improvements in quality and costs of care

The agreement features a new payment model to reward Memorial Hermann physicians for meeting quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction measures, including:

• The percentage of Aetna 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.

“Memorial Hermann, MHMD, and Aetna share a vision to provide Houston with the highest quality care at a reasonable cost,” said Dan Wolterman, president and CEO of the Memorial Hermann Health System. “We are delighted we will be able to positively impact the health of more people in our community through this new program.”

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