CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Joint Commission announced today that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio now recognizes The Joint Commission’s Integrated Care Certification (ICC) as a means to meet its Care Coordination measure for plans’ Quality-In-Sights®: Hospital Incentive Program (Q-HIP®) requirements.
Q-HIP is an industry-leading quality recognition program introduced in 2003, with about 100 facilities participating across Ohio. Q-HIP hospitals are eligible to receive incentives based on clinical quality delivered to Anthem members.
Anthem and its sister health plans in 13 states are the first health plans to offer an incentive to network health care providers that achieve Integrated Care Certification from The Joint Commission.
“The Joint Commission applauds Anthem for recognizing the value our Integrated Care Certification brings to its participating hospitals, medical staff and, most importantly, the thousands of members in Anthem’s plans who use Joint Commission-accredited and certified organizations for their health care needs each year,” said Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, chief operating officer, Accreditation and Certification Operations, The Joint Commission.
The Joint Commission began offering Integrated Care Certification in July 2015 to recognize hospitals and ambulatory care settings or physician networks that excel at integrating information-sharing, transitions of care, hand-off communications and other key activities as a patient moves between the hospital and outpatient care settings. The overarching goal is to improve patient outcomes by keeping providers and patients engaged across care setting and over time.
“Anthem’s recognition of this standard is a great example of our collaboration with doctors and hospitals to shift the health care payment model to one focused on quality rather than quantity,” said Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield President Erin Hoeflinger. “Simplifying these processes has the added benefit of reducing the administrative burden of meeting those standards.”
To be eligible for the certification, at least one component of the health care system, such as the ambulatory care or hospital services, must be accredited by The Joint Commission. The certification period is for three years, and organizations are evaluated by reviewers who specialize in integrated care. This certification is separate from the accreditation process and does not affect the accreditation status of an organization.
“Hospitals and ambulatory care and physician networks that achieve Integrated Care Certification demonstrate a profound commitment to patient safety and continuity of care. We are very happy that Anthem realizes the importance of evaluating coordination of care as patients enter and leave the acute care setting,” Pelletier said.
About Anthem:
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Community Insurance Company, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AnthemPR_OH, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AskAnthem, or visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/AskAnthem.
The Joint Commission
Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies nearly 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, nonprofit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.
