Owings Mills, Md.-based CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield paid out $23 million in bonuses to primary care physicians participating in patient-centered medical homes, and physicians earned $37 million from Independence Blue Cross in Philadelphia through a similar initiative, according to an American Medical Association report.
More than 6,600 PCPs earned the bonuses from the two Blue Cross insurance companies. CareFirst BCBS reported saving $40 million in 2011 as a result of PCMH participation, while Independence Blue Cross did not release a statement on the total amount saved through PCMHs.
Participating PCPs earned $200 for devising a care plan for a patient with multiple chronic conditions, and an additional $100 bonus for maintaining and revising the care plan. Many earned outcome incentive payments for lowering the total cost of care for their patient population.
Researchers are looking into specifically how the insurance companies saved money through coordinating care using PCMHs. The reductions likely came from cutting duplicative services, emergency department visits and hospitalizations, according to the report.
Overall, PCMHs run by BCBS member providers cover about 4 million patients in 39 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, according to the report.
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More than 6,600 PCPs earned the bonuses from the two Blue Cross insurance companies. CareFirst BCBS reported saving $40 million in 2011 as a result of PCMH participation, while Independence Blue Cross did not release a statement on the total amount saved through PCMHs.
Participating PCPs earned $200 for devising a care plan for a patient with multiple chronic conditions, and an additional $100 bonus for maintaining and revising the care plan. Many earned outcome incentive payments for lowering the total cost of care for their patient population.
Researchers are looking into specifically how the insurance companies saved money through coordinating care using PCMHs. The reductions likely came from cutting duplicative services, emergency department visits and hospitalizations, according to the report.
Overall, PCMHs run by BCBS member providers cover about 4 million patients in 39 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, according to the report.
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