UnitedHealth Group Begins Pilot Program In Arizona
UnitedHealth gives more authority over the physicians patient care decisions and higher payments for patients closer monitoring of progress, even if they are treated by specialists or hospitals. UnitedHealth will hire consultants to a for-profit corporation managed by the American Academy of Family Physicians to help physicians change their practices to improve patient care. Doctors continue to receive payments from UnitedHealth on the basis of the services they provide, but also receive a quarterly management fees and bonuses when they meet certain quality measures.
UnitedHealth and IBM officials said that doctors can increase their overall revenues by more than 30% in the program. In addition, UnitedHealth officials said they expect a double digit decrease in hospital stays and visits to the emergency department as a result of the program. UnitedHealth did not disclose the cost of the program, but the company has spent more than a combined $ 1 million on three programs in the medical home. UnitedHealth has recently completed a similar program in Florida because of a lack of support from doctors in the state.