[May 04, 2012]

Florida Blue, Baptist Health South Florida and Advanced Medical Specialties Introduce Accountable Cancer Care Program

Florida Blue, Florida's Blue Cross and Blue Shield company, along with Baptist Health South Florida and Advanced Medical Specialties, an oncology practice with 17 locations in South Florida, jointly announce a new collaboration aimed at providing the utmost in quality care for oncology patients in South Florida. The three organizations are teaming up to create an Accountable Care Program specific to the treatment of cancer.

The Florida Blue/Baptist Health South Florida/Advanced Medical Specialties Accountable Care Program will build a new delivery of care model that shifts toward a value-based reimbursement while improving the overall quality of care to Florida Blue members.

"We are honored to be able to collaborate with Baptist Health South Florida and Advanced Medical Specialties to create a truly innovative care model for our members in South Florida," said Pat Geraghty, Chairman and CEO of Florida Blue. "In the age of reform, health care organizations must create new models of care that deliver the highest quality of care while reducing the cost burden for all stakeholders. This Cancer Care Program is an important step toward that goal."

Accountable Care programs present mechanisms, such as shared savings, that incentivize quality, care coordination, and total care management. The overall goals of Accountable Care arrangements are to improve individual patient care, improve overall health and decrease medical costs.

"This is a collective effort between three health care industry leaders that will not only benefit our oncology patients first and foremost, but will also help set a new standard for top-quality care coordination," said Ralph Lawson, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Baptist Health.

Currently, 12 millon people worldwide receive a cancer diagnosis each year, with an associated price tag (News - Alert) of $286 billion in medical costs and lost productivity. By 2030, that number is estimated to increase to 22 million people each year, with a comparable rise in costs. More than half of the cost is attributable to medical care, according to a report in The Lancet Oncology.

"Our focus has been on evidence-based treatment regimens, advance care planning, and the avoidance of unnecessary ER visits and hospital admissions. Our collaboration with two health care leaders, Florida Blue and Baptist Health, will spur innovation that will lead to better-coordinated, more cost-effective care of our patients with cancer," said Leonard Kalman, M.D., Chairman of Advanced Medical Specialties.

The Accountable Cancer Care Program will focus on treating some of the most common forms of cancer. The hope is the program will create a model of quality and service that can be replicated throughout the state.

About Florida Blue

Florida Blue, Florida's Blue Cross and Blue Shield company, is a leader in Florida's health industry. Since 1944, our members have counted on us to continuously develop better solutions that promote more affordable health care across the state. Our mission, to help people and communities achieve better health, is central to all that we do. Helping people in their pursuit of health reflects Florida Blue's commitment to ensuring affordable plans, providing personal support for health and wellness and building strong communities that enable health and wellness for all. Florida Blue is a not-for-profit, policyholder-owned, tax-paying mutual company. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., it is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information, visit www.FloridaBlue.com.

About Baptist Health South Florida

Baptist Health South Florida is the largest faith-based, not-for-profit healthcare organization in the region. It includes Baptist Hospital, Baptist Children's Hospital, South Miami Hospital, Homestead Hospital, Mariners Hospital, Doctors Hospital, West Kendall Baptist Hospital and Baptist Outpatient Services. Baptist Health Foundation, the organization's fundraising arm, supports services at all hospitals and facilities affiliated with Baptist Health. For more information, visit www.BaptistHealth.net.

About Advanced Medical Specialties

Advanced Medical Specialties is a diversified oncology practice that provides medical oncology, radiation oncology, pediatric oncology, gynecologic oncology, and high tech imaging services at 17 sites throughout Miami-Dade County, The practice is a member of the US Oncology Network, a division of McKesson Specialty Health. For more information, visit www.MiamiCancer.com.

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