BlueCross, MissionPoint Health Partners launch accountable care network health plan option for self-funded employer groups

New 4-year accountable care agreement focuses on improved patient outcomes and cost-efficient care in Middle Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BlueCross® BlueShield® of Tennessee will partner with MissionPoint Health Partners in a four-year arrangement focused on quality and affordability of care, with the goal of delivering outstanding medical value in the Middle Tennessee – Nashville metro area marketplace.

“MissionPoint truly is a new platform for healthcare delivery. We’ve been extremely pleased with the response from patients, physicians and the business community. Now, working with BlueCross, we have the opportunity to provide our unique approach to health care to more individuals and communities.”

Through the partnership, BlueCross will launch a product built around MissionPoint’s accountable care organization that is available to self-funded employer groups.

The new agreement between MissionPoint and BlueCross goes into effect Jan. 1, 2014, and focuses on realizing four core objectives:

• Enhancing the health status of the community
• Reducing health care costs
• Improving the patient experience
• Enriching the lives of caregivers

Launched in January 2012, MissionPoint has already demonstrated results in achieving these objectives serving more than 50,000 members in Middle Tennessee. The ACO partnership with MissionPoint is the first for BlueCross in Middle Tennessee. ACOs were originally conceived to link payments to outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries.

MissionPoint will be offered as the exclusive ACO health plan to self-funded employer groups. This will give members access to the region’s proven and most comprehensive ACO network health plan system through BlueCross and will drive savings for customers.

As a non-profit organization founded by Saint Thomas Health and a group of dedicated physicians, MissionPoint has shown it is possible to deliver higher quality care while reducing health care costs to individuals, employers and entire populations of people.

MissionPoint provides various services to members including:

• Health coaching
• Health navigation
• Home visits
• Preventive health services
• Strategies for managing a member’s individual health

“This is truly a partnership of strengths in Nashville,” said J.D. Hickey, Executive Vice President & COO for BlueCross. “MissionPoint has demonstrated that it is able to deliver enhanced, accountable care in a completely different way. Our agreement with MissionPoint enhances our own efforts to improve quality and deliver a better customer experience. This has the added benefit of cost savings for our customers, which ultimately makes us both more competitive in this marketplace.”

“We are excited to partner with BlueCross BlueShield Tennessee in offering a new product to the community, expanding our efforts in continuously improving quality outcomes and lowering costs,” said Jason Dinger, CEO of MissionPoint Health Partners. “MissionPoint truly is a new platform for healthcare delivery. We’ve been extremely pleased with the response from patients, physicians and the business community. Now, working with BlueCross, we have the opportunity to provide our unique approach to health care to more individuals and communities.”

Building the MissionPoint ACO health plan into a product is one way that BlueCross works to curb costs for customers. By choosing this option as part of a benefits plan, both employers and employees can share in the savings.

About MissionPoint Health Partners

MissionPoint Health Partners is part of Saint Thomas Health in Nashville, TN which is owned and operated by Ascension Health. As a not for profit organization, we are committed to the vision and values of Ascension Health, not only serving the healthcare needs of our community but the poor and vulnerable among us. In its first year of operation, MissionPoint now serves 50,000 members in Middle Tennessee, delivering high-quality healthcare in a patient-focused, smarter way while reducing health care costs to individuals, employers and entire populations of people. The MissionPoint network includes more than 1,400 Physicians, representing more than 60 specialties and sub-specialties. Participating facilities include a number of major hospitals and more than 100 outpatient locations providing clinical integrated services such as home health, outpatient surgery, diagnostic imaging, sleep studies, skilled nursing and hospice services.

About BlueCross®

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee’s mission is to provide its customers and communities with peace of mind through affordable solutions for health and healing, life and living. Founded in 1945, the Chattanooga-based company is focused on reinventing the health plan for its more than 3 million members in Tennessee and across the country. Through its integrated health management approach, BlueCross provides patient-centric products and services that drive health improvement and positively impact health care quality and value. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Inc. is an independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association. For more information, visit the company’s website at bcbst.com.