Allina Health and HealthPartners collaboration continues to demonstrate improved quality and lower costs
Medical spending $8 million lower over two years
Allina Health and HealthPartners collaboration continues to demonstrate improved quality and lower costs
<0> HealthPartners:Pat Lund 651-254-4731orAllina Health:Gloria O’Connell 612-863-4801 </0>
Results from the second year of a unique collaboration between Allina Health and HealthPartners continue to show positive results in improving health outcomes, patient experience, and helping keep costs under control. The Northwest Metro Alliance began in 2010 to serve 27,000 people who live in Anoka County and southern Sherburne County. These individuals are covered by HealthPartners insurance and receive care at four Allina Medical Clinic locations, four HealthPartners Medical Group clinics and/or Mercy Hospital, part of Allina Health.
In its second year, the Northwest Metro Alliance demonstrated continued progress by focusing on coordinating care across the two medical groups, applying evidence-based best practice guidelines consistently, creating personalized care plans for patients, and by empowering patients to improve health:
“This model works because it supports both patients and doctors, ensuring that patients get the best care based on the latest scientific evidence and also that care is customized to each patient’s individual needs,” said Brian Rank, MD, medical director for HealthPartners Medical Group.
“These results strongly suggest that this collaborative work is an effective model for health care reform and we will continue to learn from it and refine it regardless of what happens with health care legislation,” said Penny Wheeler, MD, chief clinical officer, Allina Health.
Since the Northwest Metro Alliance model was implemented, medical costs are nearly $8 million lower than what they would have been with projected trends. Medical cost increases fell from 8 percent in 2009, to 3 percent increase in 2010, to less than 1 percent last year.
The Northwest Metro Alliance is an accountable care organization and is designed to simultaneously improve the health of the population, deliver excellent patient experience and lower the cost of care.
Details of the second-year results of the Northwest Metro Alliance can be found in an on Allina.com and HealthPartners.com.
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