Anthem Blue Cross and seven top hospital systems have partnered to offer
Anthem Blue Cross Vivity, an integrated health system in Los Angeles and
Orange counties. This is a first in the nation partnership between an
insurer and seven competing hospital systems that will align to enhance
the health of all Anthem Blue Cross Vivity members and also share financial
risk and gain.
The seven hospital systems – which all have hospitals ranked in the
top 30 in Los Angeles County by U.S. News & World Report – are
Cedars-Sinai, Good Samaritan Hospital, Huntington Memorial Hospital, MemorialCare
Health System, PIH Health, Torrance Memorial Medical Center and UCLA Health.
"This is an exciting and historic time," said Pam Kehaly, west
region president for Anthem Blue Cross. "This innovative venture
will create a foundation to significantly advance the medical delivery
system, simplifying the care experience and creating a structure with
aligned incentives to eliminate waste and redundancy and improve overall
health."
Vivity continues the move away from traditional fee-for-service reimbursements
that may incentivize increasing the volume of medical procedures performed
by providers, and continues the trend of moving toward a structure that
financially rewards activities to keep patients healthy.
This is just the first step in aligning the delivery system. Longer term
value will come from efficiency and effectiveness improvements enabled
by such things as a common electronic health records system, shared care
management systems, joint wellness resources, etc.
Anthem Blue Cross Vivity will provide members with a simpler experience
and convenient access to some of the best primary care doctors, specialists
and hospitals in the region at an affordable price. The seven hospital
systems and their affiliated medical groups have built a network of doctors
that provide both quality care and affordable prices to Vivity members
in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
In the creation of Vivity, accessing health care has been greatly simplified
and costs have been made vastly more predictable. When Vivity members
go to the doctor, have a medical procedure or pick up a prescription,
all they pay is their co-pay. They won't have to worry about meeting
deductibles or deciphering complicated medical bills.
CalPERS, the nation's second largest purchaser of health benefits and
an early adopter of health care system innovations, has already agreed
to use Vivity network doctors and hospitals within their Select HMO network
in Los Angeles and Orange counties. Large group brokers can start requesting
proposals on Oct. 1, with coverage starting on Jan. 1, 2015.
This announcement is the culmination of a year's worth of work. Each
party worked diligently to come together and develop an innovative way
to provide Vivity members with convenient access to quality care at an
affordable price.
The name Vivity captures a fresh perspective on healthcare. Coined from
vivify, a verb meaning "to enliven or animate," Vivity speaks
to the energized team of providers coming together to deliver a uniquely
people-centric offering. The name's root in the Latin vivere, "to
live," highlights what Vivity is all about: impacting the lives of
Southern Californians by giving them access to the highest-quality care—as
well as choice within and control over their experience.
What Vivity Network Hospital Systems Are Saying About the Joint Venture
Torrance Memorial Health System
"Vivity will benefit consumers by the quality of the hospital and
physician network, combined with innovative consumer-friendly programs
and benefits, all at a competitive price," states Craig Leach, President
and CEO of Torrance Memorial Health System. "Torrance Memorial is
very pleased to be joining the new partnership with Anthem Blue Cross
and the hospital partners."
PIH Health
"Our goal at PIH Health is to be the health and wellness partner for
our community, and Anthem Blue Cross Vivity helps us extend our reach
and improve the quality of care and the patient experience at a reasonable
price," said Jim West, PIH Health President and CEO.
UCLA Health
"Vivity will create economies of scale, allowing us to provide the
highest quality and affordable healthcare to thousands of Californians,"
said David T. Feinberg, MD, President, UCLA Health System, CEO, UCLA Hospital
System. "UCLA is proud to join Anthem Blue Cross and its hospital
partners at the vanguard of healthcare delivery in the U.S."
Good Samaritan Hospital
"It is an honor for Good Samaritan Hospital to be one of the founding
collaborators on Anthem Blue Cross Vivity," says Andrew B. Leeka,
President and CEO of Good Samaritan Hospital. "This partnership deepens
our relationship with Anthem Blue Cross and will be a great benefit to
our patients. Adopting an innovative health care model that promotes disease
prevention, coordinated care, quality outcomes and most of all allowing
patients to be an active participant in their own care at an affordable
price is definitely the future of health care."
Cedars-Sinai Health System
"Our patients continually tell us how important it is that they can
access outstanding primary care and highly skilled specialty care in a
seamless network," said Thomas M. Priselac, president and CEO of
Cedars-Sinai Health System. "Vivity expands this ability to more
people throughout Southern California, by providing access to the region's
highest quality hospitals and medical groups in a simple, easily navigated
network."
MemorialCare Health System
"This unprecedented partnership was created to provide employers and
consumers with a unique health care offering," says Barry Arbuckle,
PhD, President and CEO of MemorialCare Health System in Orange and Los
Angeles counties. "Anthem Blue Cross Vivity provides choice, convenience
and affordable access to exceptional physicians and hospitals throughout
our region. MemorialCare is pleased to be part of this high value, innovative
plan."
Huntington Memorial Hospital
"Being part of Anthem Blue Cross Vivity is central to our mission
of providing people in our region real choice and value in how they access
the affordable, quality healthcare that is right for themselves and their
families," said Stephen A. Ralph, president and CEO of Huntington
Memorial Hospital. "As healthcare continues to evolve to meet the
needs of all Americans, our participation in Anthem Blue Cross Vivity
is one important way that we will continue to attend to the varying healthcare
needs of the San Gabriel Valley - just as we have for more than 120 years."
Vivity can be found online at
www.VivityHealth.com
.