South Carolina tests medical home payment model

BlueCross BlueShield of SOUTH CAROLINA and the Palmetto Health Family Medicine Center/University of South Carolina School of Medicine Department of Family and Preventive Medicine began a program this month that compensates the medical center for extra care coordination and pays incentives to physicians if the center can show improved patient health results.

In MASSACHUSETTS, Northeast Health Systems Physician Hospital Organization Inc. became the ninth physician or hospital group in the state to sign the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Inc. five-year Alternative Quality Contract. The contract is a fixed payment per patient adjusted for age, sex, and health status that increases annually in line with inflation.