St. Bernardine Medical Center and Community Hospital of San Bernardino "Bundle Up" to Improve Coordination, Reduce Costs
Hospitals Selected by CMS to Participate in National Pilot Program
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., Feb. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- St. Bernardine Medical Center and Community Hospital of San Bernardino announced today that they have been selected by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for participation in the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement initiative. The objective of this Model 1 bundled payment pilot program is to improve the quality of health care delivery for Medicare beneficiaries by aligning the financial incentives of all providers.
The two Dignity Health hospitals in San Bernardino are among only 32 hospitals nationwide selected for the Model 1 pilot program. Beginning in April 2013, St. Bernardine and Community Hospital will be accepting bundled payments from CMS for hospital and physician services for an estimated 13,000 Medicare beneficiaries. Under Model 1, the hospitals will accept financial risk and work more closely with physicians on care protocols and the implementation of evidence-based medicine.
"This is a major achievement for both hospitals and our physicians to be among the select group of innovators who are redefining health care delivery in local communities throughout the nation," said Steven R. Barron, Dignity Health Senior Vice President of Operations, Southern California East, and President of St. Bernardine Medical Center.
The Affordable Care Act that is driving reform in health care is also opening the doors for a new level of partnership between hospitals and physicians that promises to help improve quality and reduce costs.
Community Hospital and St. Bernardine took strong positive action to ensure collaboration with area physicians, supporting their work to establish the Southern California Integrated Care Network (SCICN). "The Model 1 bundled payment program is our first opportunity to work collaboratively with the members of SCICN to provide better care, better health, and reduce health care costs for Medicare beneficiaries and ultimately the Inland Empire," said Barron.
There is a great deal of work ahead, according to Barron. "Our work today secures better health and health care for our communities tomorrow," he concluded.
SOURCE St. Bernardine Medical Center; Community Hospital of San Bernardino
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