Aetna Signs Accountable Care Arrangements with Mercy Health System, St. Mary Medical Center

BLUE BELL, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Aetna AET today announced that it has signed accountable care organization (ACO) agreements with Mercy Accountable Care (part of Mercy Health System) and Quality Health Alliance (part of St. Mary Medical Center), offering commercial customers in Southeastern Pennsylvania a health care model designed to improve quality, efficiency and the patient experience.

Mercy Health System and St. Mary Medical Center are both part of Trinity Health.

The two health systems will deliver care under a value-based, patient-centric model of health care delivery that is focused on keeping people healthy rather than just treating them when they become sick.

The ACO model is designed to offer:

• More coordinated, team-based care among doctors and other care providers;
• Enhanced patient experience through best-in-class care management programs and technology that delivers information to all providers;
• Lower overall out-of-pocket costs for members who see providers that are part of the ACO; and
• Better health care outcomes.

"Aetna is working to transform the health care system, and we're delighted that Mercy Health System and St. Mary Medical System are joining us in this effort," said Laurie Brubaker, president of Aetna's Pennsylvania operations. "For too long, the system has paid for care based on volume, rather than on the value the care brings. Under this ACO model, we will aim together to produce higher care quality and a better experience for our members."

"The agreement will afford Aetna recipients in the St. Mary Health-Bucks County region quality health care through population health management and attention to wellness and disease prevention," said Benjamin Chack, D.O., president, Quality Health Alliance-ACO.

"This new arrangement with Aetna allows our physicians to maintain a greater focus on the overall health of our patients. Patients will have greater access to high-quality, comprehensive care delivered to ensure an enhanced patient experience" said Gary Zimmer, M.D., senior vice president and CEO, Clinically Integrated Network, Mercy Health System.

Earlier this year, Aetna, St. Mary Medical Center and Nazareth Hospital signed a separate agreement that established the hospitals as Tier 1 providers under Aetna's Savings Plus network. Mercy Fitzgerald, Mercy Philadelphia and Mercy Suburban hospitals also are included as Tier 1 providers under a previous agreement.

Aetna is working with health care organizations nationwide to develop products and services that support value-driven, patient-centered care for health care consumers. Nationally today, about 5.8 million Aetna members receive care from doctors committed to the value-based approach, with 30 percent of Aetna claims payments going to doctors and providers who practice value-based care. Aetna has committed to increasing that number to 75 percent by 2020.

Aetna provides health benefits to more than 1.6 million people in Pennsylvania.

About Mercy Health System
A diverse, integrated system providing comprehensive health care services, Mercy Health System, a part of Trinity Health, comprises four acute care hospitals, a home healthcare organization, several wellness centers, physician practices, a federal PACE program, and co-owner of managed care plan, Gateway Health Plan. With 250 primary care and specialty physicians, Mercy Health System is a teaching community health system affiliated with Drexel University School of Medicine and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM). As a mission-driven regional health ministry, we will become the recognized leader in improving the health of our communities and each person we serve. We will be known as the most trusted health partner for life. To learn more about Mercy Health System, visit www.mercyhealth.org.

About St. Mary Health
St. Mary Health, a member of Trinity Health, the nation's second largest Catholic health care organization, is an integrated health care system based in Langhorne, Pa. At the core is St. Mary Medical Center, the most comprehensive medical center in the Bucks County region. The St. Mary Health staff of more than 700 physicians, 3,200 colleagues, and 1,100 volunteers is committed to providing excellence in patient safety and compassionate, quality care through an enhanced and expanding array of health and wellness services designed to meet community needs now and in the future. For a full listing of the myriad health care services St. Mary Health offers, visit www.StMaryHealthcare.org.

About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving an estimated 46.7 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services, workers' compensation administrative services and health information technology products and services. Aetna's customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com and learn about how Aetna is helping to build a healthier world. @AetnaNews

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