Blue Shield of California, PrimeCare Medical Network, Inc., and San Antonio Regional Hospital Collaborate to Expand ACO Network in Southern California

UPLAND, Calif., Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Blue Shield of California has expanded its Accountable Care Organization (ACO) network in Southern California through a new collaboration with PrimeCare Medical Network, Inc., the Inland Empire's largest network of independently contracted physicians, and San Antonio Regional Hospital, which has been serving area residents for more than 100 years.

The collaboration will provide enhanced care coordination for local residents, making it easier to share important health information across the health care system, so providers involved in a patient's care support the same treatment plan.

Blue Shield's newest ACO helps transition the region's health care system from one that reimburses for quantity of services to one that rewards the quality of patients' health outcomes while seeking to make care more affordable. The network will serve more than 13,000 people in the Chino/Upland/Rancho Cucamonga region who are enrolled in Blue Shield's HMO plans.

"A shared clinical strategy with health care providers is the foundation of our ACO program and an integral part of our ongoing effort to connect Californians with quality care in a cost-effective way," said Kristen Miranda, senior vice president of strategic partnerships and innovation at Blue Shield of California. "PrimeCare and San Antonio Regional Hospital have shown an incredible level of commitment to this work, including setting important goals in improving quality while controlling cost."

PrimeCare is a health care delivery network serving more than 187,000 people in the Inland Empire. PrimeCare primary care physicians and specialists have been serving patients since 1994.

"Together with Blue Shield of California and San Antonio Regional Hospital, we expect to achieve even better health outcomes and greater patient satisfaction," said Leigh Hutchins, president and CEO of PrimeCare.

San Antonio Regional Hospital is an acute-care hospital that has been serving the community for more than a century and treats more than 200,000 patients each year. The hospital system includes its main campus in Upland that will soon open a new 52-bed emergency department and patient tower with private rooms to continue its legacy of serving the needs of a growing region. The system also includes medical plazas in Eastvale, Rancho Cucamonga and Fontana.

"San Antonio Regional Hospital is dedicated to providing exceptional care for the people and communities it serves," said Harris Koenig, president and CEO of San Antonio Regional Hospital. "Through Blue Shield's ACO network, we will collaboratively work with Blue Shield, PrimeCare and our physicians to enhance the clinical care provided for our patients. Using common data and metrics available in a clinically integrated system, we will work together to keep Blue Shield members healthy, avoid unnecessary emergency room visits and the need for hospitalization. We are excited about the opportunity to enhance the care delivery system, and we look forward to serving a key role in this Blue Shield ACO relationship."

From its first ACO in 2010, Blue Shield's network now includes 37 ACOs, serving about 340,000 people. In the program's first five years, Blue Shield and its ACO participants achieved more than $325 million in estimated healthcare savings. 

About PrimeCare

PrimeCare Medical Network, Inc. has been caring for the communities of San Bernardino and Riverside counties since 1994 through its independently contracted network of 350 local primary care doctors and more than 1,000 specialists. PrimeCare physicians take pride in the relationships they build with their patients and are dedicated to promoting their overall well-being. For more information, visit www.primecare.com.

About San Antonio Regional Hospital

San Antonio Regional Hospital in Upland, California is a 271-bed, nonprofit, acute care hospital that combines excellent clinical care with exceptional compassion. The award-winning hospital offers a comprehensive range of general medical and surgical services, along with the latest technological advances in cardiac care, cancer care, orthopedics, neurosciences, women's health, maternity and neonatal care, and emergency services. Since 1907, San Antonio Regional Hospital has emerged as a premier regional medical facility with satellite locations across the rapidly expanding Inland Empire. The hospital is nearing completion of a major expansion project that will add a new 52-bed emergency department and a 92-bed patient tower comprised of 80 private rooms and 12 critical care beds on its main hospital campus. The expansion positions San Antonio as a hospital of the future, offering state-of-the-art healthcare services in a healing environment that is focused on the patient and family. To learn more, visit sarh.org.

About Blue Shield of California

Blue Shield of California, an independent member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, is a nonprofit health plan with 4 million members, 6,800 employees and more than $13 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 and headquartered in San Francisco, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid and Medicare health care service plans in California. The company's mission is to ensure all Californians have access to high-quality care at an affordable price. Blue Shield has contributed more than $325 million over the past ten years to the Blue Shield of California Foundation. Contact your local agent or broker about Blue Shield of California products and services, or visit www.blueshieldca.com.

CONTACT:
Matthew Yi
Corporate Communications
(415) 229-5359
[email protected]

SOURCE Blue Shield of California

Related Links

https://www.blueshieldca.com