Amerigroup to Partner with CMS on Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., June 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Amerigroup Corporation (NYSE: AGP) announced today that it was selected by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to take part in the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative (CPCi).

CMS selected Amerigroup as one of the participating payers in the New Jersey demonstration. Selected payers demonstrated a commitment to support primary care to produce better health, better care and lower costs for patients through comprehensive primary care. 

"We are honored to partner with CMS in this important demonstration," remarked Amerigroup Chief Operating Officer Richard Zoretic. "This initiative mirrors our Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) program which is a natural extension of our larger Provider Collaboration strategy designed to deepen our relationships with those physicians that strive to offer the best combination of clinical quality and affordable care. We look forward to participating in the CMS initiative as part of our ongoing effort to improve the quality and efficiency of care delivered to our members."

CPCi is a four-year multi-payer demonstration project that includes Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) populations. The CPCi fosters collaboration between public and private health care payers to strengthen primary care. The objective of the CPCi is to work with payers and practices at the local level to achieve the three-part aim of better health, better care and lower costs by supporting new payment and delivery models that strengthen the capacity of primary care practices to coordinate the total cost and quality of care for its patients. Primary care practices that choose to participate in this initiative will be given resources to better coordinate primary care for its patients. Seven states were selected to participate in the demonstration.

"We know that when we support primary care, we get healthier patients and lower costs," said Acting CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner. "This initiative shows that the public and private sectors can come together to meet the critical need for these services."

According to the latest Patient Centered Primary Care Collaborative (PCPCC) report, Amerigroup currently ranks 6th nationally for the number of providers participating in its PCMH pilot project, and is the only program in the top ten that is solely dedicated to serving public beneficiaries.  The Amerigroup PCMH strategy requires focused, on-the-ground training and collaboration with its providers, and is creating an innovative delivery system for its members in an effort to produce better outcomes, higher quality care and lower costs.

About Amerigroup Corporation

Amerigroup, a Fortune 500 Company, coordinates services for individuals in publicly funded health care programs. Currently serving 2.2 million members in 12 states nationwide, Amerigroup expects to expand operations in 2012 to Washington, its 13th state, as a result of a previously awarded state contract. Amerigroup is dedicated to offering real solutions that improve health care access and quality for its members, while proactively working to reduce the overall cost of care to taxpayers.

CONTACTS:
Investors: Julie Loftus Trudell
Amerigroup Corporation
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations
(757) 321-3597
[email protected]

News Media: Maureen C. McDonnell
Amerigroup Corporation
Vice President, External Communications
(757) 473-2731
[email protected]  

SOURCE Amerigroup Corporation