Two medical groups caring for Kaiser Permanente members have forged a closer alignment to increase patient access and improve quality of care.
Northwest Permanente in Oregon and The Permanente Medical Group of Northern California formally unveiled their affiliation April 16, shortly after the Oregon Health Authority’s Healthcare Market Oversight Program approved the transaction April 11. Both independent Permanente Medicine groups are physician-led and partner exclusively with Kaiser Foundation Health Plan on care for patients in Oregon, Washington and California.
“Consolidation of hospitals, medical groups and health plans are occurring throughout the United States,” said Leong Koh, MD, executive medical director of Northwest Permanente. “Most transactions are largely focused on size, scale and finance. What is different and exciting about our affiliation is our shared belief in value-based care. Both of our groups have walked the walk and have achieved superior and equitable patient outcomes, created fulfilling environments to practice medicine and committed to managing the costs associated with care.”
Maria Ansari, MD, CEO and executive director of The Permanente Medical Group and president and CEO of Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, will become the CEO of Northwest Permanente. She will lead the independent multispecialty medical group, which has more than 1,300 physicians in 54 specialties. All together, The Permanente Medical Group includes around 10,000 physicians caring for 4.6 million members in California.
“Innovations and performance accelerate when like-minded physicians come together,” said Dr .Ansari. “Maintaining the independence to practice the medicine we believe in is truly the promise of Permanente Medicine. Through this affiliation, we will bring cutting-edge IT, virtual care capabilities and more than 100 specialties and subspecialties to benefit patients and communities of Oregon and southwest Washington.”
