HealthPartners today announced that primary and specialty care groups earned nearly $678,000 for meeting quality measures on care and patient satisfaction. Pharmacies were among the providers, making HealthPartners Partners in Quality program one of the few to pay bonuses for pharmacological service. The bonuses are part of the pay-for-performance program which will pay out a total of more than $21 million for goals met in 2007.
Pharmacies were rated in four categories: satisfaction with service, help from a pharmacist, percent of generic drug use in four categories, and improving patients’ adherence to their medication prescriptions. Sixteen chains and independent pharmacies received the bonuses.
The bonuses recognize excellent and superior care for primary care (large and small groups) and pediatric care, as well as several specialty areas in addition to pharmacy: cardiology, OB/GYN, physical therapy, behavioral health and ENT.
"By meeting these goals, providers are changing the way they deliver care and that means better results for all patients," said Babette Apland, HealthPartners senior vice president for health and care management. She noted that improved care for diabetes results in 155 fewer amputations and prevents 115 heart attacks and 925 cases of retinopathy every year among HealthPartners members.
HealthPartners Partners in Quality program was introduced in 1997. It rewards providers in practices throughout Minnesota and bordering states. The measures are based on guidelines developed by the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement which represents more than 7,500 physicians in Minnesota.
About HealthPartners
Founded in 1957, the HealthPartners (www.healthpartners.com) family of healthcare companies serves more than one million medical and dental health plan members nationwide. It is the largest consumer-governed, nonprofit health care organization in the nation, providing care, coverage, research and education to improve the health of members, patients and the community. For the third year in a row, HealthPartners is rated one of the best commercial health plans in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, NCQA’s “America’s Best Health Plans 2007” and is ranked “Highest in Member Satisfaction among Commercial Health Plans in the Minnesota-Wisconsin Region” by J.D. Power and Associates.
Contacts:
Paul Moore, 952-883-5366
paul.d.moore@healthpartners.com
