Georgia-based Sequent Health Physician Partners collaborated with Cigna to create the medical group's first accountable care program in January.
Here are five notes:
1. Cigna Collaborative Care involves about 460 local medical providers, with 125 primary care physicians and various specialists.
2. The two organizations partnered to enhance population health through better care coordination and patient education.
3. The program seeks to close gaps in care, assure appropriate emergency room use, increase preventative health appointments and improve follow-up care.
4. Physicians lead care coordinators, who help patients receive follow-up care and screenings. These coordinators also work with Cigna case managers to ensure collaboration between Cigna and the medical group.
5. Cigna will compensate participating physicians for medical and care coordination services.
"Among the many benefits of the program, it's designed to minimize barriers to healthcare," said Manfred Sandler, MD, cardiologist and Sequent Health Physician Partners board chairman.