Florida Blue and Florida Orthopaedic Institute Introduce Knee Replacement Bundled Payment Program

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. and TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Blue and Florida Orthopaedic Institute (FOI) jointly announce a new collaboration aimed at providing the utmost in quality care for knee replacement patients in west-central Florida. The two Florida health care leaders are teaming up to create a bundled payment agreement specific to the treatment of knee replacement surgery.

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Knee replacement surgery is the most common joint replacement procedure. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, more than 600,000 knee replacements are performed each year in the United States.

Like many surgical procedures, a total knee replacement involves many individual medical procedures and processes. When done separately, the cost of care can add up quickly. With this agreement, the bundled services will be provided at one cost, creating increased savings and higher quality outcomes.

Some of the primary procedures that will be included in the bundled package include:

• All related surgical procedures as part of the knee replacement
• Anesthesia services
• Injections or drugs administered during the surgical procedure, including antibiotics
• Radiology/Imaging services
• Cost of the implant and surgical supplies
• Discharge planning and nursing care
• Office visits

"We are honored to be able to collaborate with Florida Orthopaedic Institute to create a truly innovative care model for our members considering knee replacement surgery in the Tampa region," said Dr. Jonathan Gavras, chief medical officer and senior vice president for Florida Blue. "This is another great example of new care models that are delivering the highest quality of care while reducing the cost burden for all stakeholders."

"We are pleased to be able to work with Florida Blue, which allows our patients an alternative for knee replacement surgery. Creating high standard health care requires that we find better solutions not just to the medical treatment but also so that patients can afford the needed treatment, and we believe this does just that," said Dr. Roy Sanders, president and chief medical officer of Florida Orthopaedic Institute.

About Florida Blue
Florida Blue, Florida's Blue Cross and Blue Shield company, is a leader in Florida's health care industry. Our mission is to help people and communities achieve better health. Florida Blue has approximately 4 million health care members and covers 15.5 million people in 16 states through its affiliated companies. Florida Blue is a not-for-profit, policyholder-owned, tax-paying mutual company. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., it is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information, visit www.floridablue.com.

About Florida Orthopaedic Institute
Florida Orthopaedic Institute, founded in 1989, is Florida's largest orthopedic group and provides expertise and treatment of orthopedic-related injuries and conditions, including adult reconstruction and arthritis, anesthesiology, chiropractic services, foot and ankle, general orthopedics, hand and wrist, interventional spine, musculoskeletal oncology, orthopedic trauma, physical medicine and rehabilitation, physical and occupational therapy, sports medicine, shoulder and elbow, spine, urgent care, and weight management, among others. The organization services patients throughout its surgery center and 10 office locations in Bloomingdale, Brandon, Brooksville, Carrollwood, Dade City, Northdale, Riverview, South Tampa, Sun City, Tampa and North Tampa. For more information, please visit: www.FloridaOrtho.com.

SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida