| Number Of Upper Midwest Clinics Providing Excellence In Treatment Increases
Buyers Health Care Action Group (BHCAG) and Minnesota
Bridges to Excellence said that 104 high-performing clinics from 22
medical groups in Minnesota, Western Wisconsin and North Dakota
–more than double the number of last year – will be
recognized for meeting diabetes and cardiovascular treatment goals.
The Bridges to Excellence effort in Minnesota is
sponsored by BHCAG, an employer-based coalition that includes public
and private healthcare purchasers including 3M, Carlson Companies,
General Electric, Honeywell, Medtronic, Northwest Service Cooperative,
Resource Training & Solutions, State of Minnesota Department of
Employee Relations, Target Corporation, U.S. Bank, University of
Minnesota, Wells Fargo and through the Minnesota Smart Buy Alliance,
and the Department of Human Services.
Since the program was started, the Minnesota Bridges to
Excellence "Champions of Change" have paid bonuses in excess of
$750,000.
This year, the top-performing Minnesota physicians in
diabetes and cardiovascular care can earn up to $300 for each patient
covered by a participating employer. The reward is based on their
patients meeting the specified clinical measures.
"By meeting Bridges to Excellence standards of care,
physicians help patients manage their illness and reduce complications
that affect people living with these chronic conditions," said Charlie
Montreuil, BHCAG Chair and vice president of human resources for
Carlson Companies.
The reward provided to each physician is determined by
an annual healthcare quality analysis conducted by MN Community
Measurement, which provides results on the quality of treatment at more
than 600 clinics throughout Minnesota.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, heart
disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the
United States, while more than 17 million Americans have diabetes. The
cost for managing these conditions is more than an estimated $300
billion dollars.
BHCAG and Minnesota Bridges to Excellence have also
launched a depression care management pilot to its rewards program. The
depression management pilot will monitor physician and practice
performance and improvements, evaluate the impact of better management
of depression on costs of care and understand how the measures could be
implemented through electronic medical record systems.
"The financial incentives provided by this program
accelerate physician practice changes and ultimately improve care for
diabetic and cardiovascular patients," explained Carolyn Pare, CEO for
BHCAG. "Our goal is to convince more providers to strive for the
Bridges to Excellence distinction so that consumers will have access to
information on high-quality providers throughout Minnesota."
Address Buyers Health Care Action Group, 7900 International Drive, Suite 1080, Bloomington, MN 55405; (952) 896-5186, www.bhcag.com.
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