Premier, Anthem sign new agreement

Dayton-based Premier Health and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio have entered into an agreement to provide value-based health care.

Value-based health care is a fast-growing national model for care delivery and payment, which centers the health care delivery system on primary care physician practices, according to a Premier statement.

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The new arrangement includes Anthem employer-based, individual and Medicare Advantage members. Anthem is Ohio’s largest commercial health insurer with nearly 4 million members statewide.

“This agreement is based on a mutual goal to improve care and lower costs for the community members we serve,” said Mary Boosalis, president and CEO of Premier Health. “By working collaboratively with Anthem BlueCross and Blue Shield, with a focus on member (or patient) health rather than economics alone, we are confident that this will benefit the entire community.”

The agreement aligns with Premier’s population health model and is built on Anthem’s Enhanced Personal Health Care model, which offers incentives to Premier doctors for lowering costs while meeting certain quality measures.

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Premier Health is the largest health system in southwest Ohio with four member hospitals, along with affiliate partners, such as a large primary care and specialty physician network, community health, home health, and behavioral health partners.

Patients and their families are served by over 14,000 employees and nearly 2,600 physicians in more than 70 specialties. Premier offers over 100 access points that provide services across the region.

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