Last year, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois partnered with Illinois Gastroenterology Group in Elgin to create an intensive medical home focused on Crohn's disease. Now the payer has launched four additional IMHs.
On April 1 BCBSIL launched:
• Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network in Princeton
• Lurie Children's Health Partners in Chicago
• Rush Health in Chicago
• Unified Physicians Network in Skokie, Ill.
"The IMH is an alternative for providers that aren't part of a larger accountable care organization, but do want to be part of a value-based care model," says Walter Hollinger, MD, medical director of strategic operations at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois.
A nurse care manager anchors the IMH model. The nurse care manager focuses on the highest risk patients. The goal is to improve the quality of life for these patients, while reducing complications and ensuing costs.
BCBSIL has a total of 14 IMHs.