DETROIT – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan announced this week that it has opened its Physician Group Incentive Program (PGIP) to all specialists.
With specialists, including podiatrists and chiropractors, on board, physicians will work together to develop and use shared information systems and processes of care, as well as sharing responsibility for the health outcomes of a group of patients, the Blue announced.
This marks the beginning of the health plan’s organized Systems of Care program, its version of an accountable care organization.
David Share, MD, vice president of Value Partnerships at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan said, “The natural extension is for these PCMH practices to integrate patient care with specialists, using shared systems and processes so that patients’ health is managed across all stages.”
[See also: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan expands online information exchange.]
In this early stage of Organized Systems of Care development, about 5,330 physicians in 39 groups have expressed interest in participating in BCBSM’s OSC program, the health plan reported.
“We are closely collaborating with physicians to develop the parameters of this program, giving them wide latitude in how they transform their systems of care,” Share said. “Blue Cross expects each OSC to be responsible for delivering well-coordinated, efficient, high quality health care to its group of patients. But how they go about doing that is not for us to dictate.”
Blue Cross expects to launch a full OSC program in 2013. Participating OSCs will earn a greater portion of reimbursement tied to participation and performance.
[See also: Blue Cross of California launches pay-for-performance hospital program.]
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