BCBS & Nebraska Health Network Announce New Value-Based Patient-Focused Agreement

OMAHA - Delivering quality care in the most cost effective manner is the concept behind a new value-based patient-focused, total cost of care reimbursement agreement between Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska and the Nebraska Health Network. 

The Nebraska Health Network is a local, physician-led, accountable care organization that includes Nebraska Medicine, Methodist Health System and their affiliated physicians and hospitals.

Fremont Health has also joined in partnership with the Nebraska Health Network in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield agreement to provide comprehensive treatment for patients in Omaha, Fremont and the Council Bluffs community.

“We are excited to expand our partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska in this value-based arrangement,” said Lee Handke, chief executive officer, Nebraska Health Network. “This program reinforces our commitment to provide high quality, cost-efficient care for our customers in the Omaha community.” 

Under this arrangement, physicians are rewarded financially if they perform better than projected on patient experience, outcomes and costs.  

With this type of agreement, a higher emphasis is placed on keeping patients healthy by proactively coordinating care and reducing waste and unnecessary medical expenditures.  Quality metrics, such as accessibility, care coordination, medication monitoring and readmission management, ensure that patient care remains at the forefront while receiving care.

“The contract with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska creates better dialogue with patients, putting our physicians and care team at the forefront of the health care plan,” said Michael Romano, MD, chief medical officer, Nebraska Health Network. “With an emphasis on care coordination our physicians are actively monitoring patients throughout the year to proactively identify areas of opportunity to improve their health.”

Patient-centered care is focused on outcomes, not just cost.

“This agreement supports our belief in the critical role of the primary care physician in a patient’s health care,” said Joann Schaefer MD, chief medical officer for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska.  “Studies have shown that the stronger a patient’s ties to his or her primary care physician, the better the quality of care received, and the more efficiently that care is delivered.”

The new contract applies to the existing Select Blue (the Blue Cross select-tier health insurance plan available only in the Omaha metro area) population who are already receiving care from a Nebraska Health Network affiliated and aligned physician.  From the patient perspective, nothing changes related to how they receive and access their health care or insurance.