Empire BlueCross BlueShield (Empire) and Mount Sinai Health System (Mount Sinai) announced today a new agreement focused on delivering care through new models to lower costs and increase value for people throughout New York City. This latest multi-year agreement continues the longstanding relationship between the two organizations. It features three new care models, which provide Empire members access to Mount Sinai Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport (ET3), Mount Sinai Community Paramedicine and Mount Sinai Visiting Doctors Program (MSVD). Additionally, the new agreement details a plan for Mount Sinai to enhance bi-directional data integration with Empire, as part of Empire's goal to have 80% of its members connected with real-time Admissions, Discharge and Transfer notifications and better integration of clinical information by the end of 2022.
"We are on a mission to materially and measurably improve the health of all New Yorkers, and we know that during the last year people have become more open to receiving care through a variety of ways, including at home," said Jordan Vidor, Regional Vice President, Provider Solutions, Empire BlueCross BlueShield. "Today, as part of our mission, we signed a new agreement with Mount Sinai Health System to offer our members more options in terms of when, where, and how they receive care. The new agreement features several innovative value-based care arrangements, with shared incentives to jointly improve the quality of care across our shared footprint."
As part of this agreement, Empire is now a participating provider in Mount Sinai Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport (ET3) and Mount Sinai Community Paramedicine. These two care models provide greater flexibility to ambulance care teams to address emergency healthcare needs of Empire's commercial members, which can result, when appropriate, with treatment-on-scene with or without telehealth. Through the ET3 model, members who call 911 and have Mount Sinai dispatched will have the option to receive care, when medically appropriate, at their home instead of going to the emergency room. Similarly, through the Community Paramedicine model, members who call a doctor at Mount Sinai for care can choose to have a paramedic dispatched to their home to potentially avoid a trip to the emergency room. These two models prioritize patient safety and reduce healthcare costs by reducing costly, avoidable trips to the hospital. ET3 is also available to Empire's Medicaid members.
Additionally, Empire is also a participating provider in the Mount Sinai Visiting Doctors Program (MSVD), which is an integrated care model focused on homebound members where each member has a dedicated team working together to address clinical and social needs. MSVD delivers primary and palliative care to frail elderly and homebound patients with chronic illness, and is available for qualifying members enrolled in Empire's Medicare plans.
"We are excited to partner with Empire on a long-term contract that demonstrates an ongoing commitment to improve the quality and affordability of care for Empire members," said Robert Fields, MD, MHA, Executive Vice President and Chief Population Health Office at Mount Sinai Health System. "This new contract will support innovation in the delivery of care and move us closer to promoting value in a complex environment."
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About Empire BlueCross BlueShield in New York
Serving New Yorkers for more than 85 years, Empire BlueCross BlueShield (Empire) is on a mission to materially and measurably improve the health of New Yorkers. Empire is the largest health insurer in New York supporting more than four million members and more than 38,000 business, union and small employers in New York. Empire is the trade name of Empire HealthChoice Assurance, Inc., and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO is the trade name of Empire HealthChoice HMO, Inc., independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, serving residents and businesses in the 28 eastern and southeastern counties of New York State. Additional information about Empire is available at www.empireblue.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at @empirebcbs and on LinkedIn.
