Regence Announces 9 New Collaborative Care Agreements

SEATTLE, Oct. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Regence today announced it has reached a milestone of 31 accountable health initiatives across its four-state region with the addition of nine new collaborative health care agreements. This represents a significant increase in the reach of Regence's programs to improve health care quality while containing medical costs.

Regence BlueShield in Washington has eight new accountable care agreements with Lake Shore Family Practice; Walla Walla Clinic; Franciscan Health System; Sound Family Medicine; Northwest Physicians Network IPA; Evergreen Health; The PolyClinic; and Puget Sound Family Physicians. Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon has one new agreement with Salem Clinic.

Other provider organizations that also have entered into collaborative care agreements with Regence over the past year include Legacy Health, Adventist Health, Tuality Health Alliance and Willamette Valley Health Solutions with Regence BlueCross Blue Shield  in Oregon;  Central Utah Clinic with Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah; and The Everett Clinic and MultiCare Health System with RegenceBlueShield in Washington.

According to a 2011 Deloitte survey of health care consumers, 55 percent of Americans believe it's possible to improve quality and reduce costs simultaneously.

"The new collaborative payment models with these providers are intended to advance the Triple Aim goals of improving the health of patients and their care experience, and lowering costs," said Richard Popiel, M.D. M.B.A, executive vice president of Health Care Services and chief medical officer for Regence. "We believe that by working together with our provider partners, we can create value for our members and patients."

This announcement is the latest as part of Regence's comprehensive Accountable Health strategy within the Regence family of companies in Oregon, Utah, Washington and Idaho to help foster collaborative physician-patient relationships that improve quality of care. Since 2007, Regence has worked with providers, employers, and individual members throughout its four-state region to implement collaborative care models. Additional collaborative arrangements with doctors and hospitals throughout the Northwest region are expected in the coming weeks.

"This is an exciting time in health care. We are truly transforming the way health care is delivered through the creation of accountable care agreements such as these collaborations," said Don Antonucci, president of Regence BlueCross Blue Shield of Oregon and interim president of Regence BlueShield in Washington.  "Together with our provider partners, we are shifting from a health care delivery system into one that achieves greater value and patient orientation in health care."

About Regence affiliated companies
The Regence affiliated companies serve more than two million members through Regence BlueShield of Idaho, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah and Regence BlueShield (selected counties in Washington). Each health plan is a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The Regence affiliated companies are committed to improving the health of its members and communities and to transforming the health care system. For more information, please visit www.regence.com or follow us on Twitter.

About Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon is a leading health plan in Oregon, with nearly 750,000 members, offering health, life and dental insurance. Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon is a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, and is affiliated with Regence BlueShield of Idaho, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah and Regence BlueShield (selected counties in Washington). Together, the companies serve more than two million members in the Northwest/Intermountain Region. The Regence affiliated companies are committed to improving the health of its members and communities, and to transforming the health care system. For more information, please visit www.regence.com or www.twitter.com/RegenceOregon.

About Regence BlueShield
Regence BlueShield is a leading health plan in Washington with nearly one million members, offering health, life and dental insurance. Regence BlueShield is a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, and is affiliated with Regence BlueShield of Idaho, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah. Together, the companies serve more than two million members in the Northwest/Intermountain Region. The Regence affiliated companies are committed to improving the health of its members and communities, and to transforming the healthcare system. For more information, please visit www.regence.com or www.twitter.com/RegenceWA.

SOURCE Regence BlueShield