Mount Kisco Medical Group and Empire BlueCross BlueShield Announce Agreement to Provide an Enhanced Personal Health Care Program

Program will enhance patient care coordination, improve outcomes and lower health costs

MOUNT KISCO, N.Y.--()--The Mount Kisco Medical Group (MKMG), a multi-specialty health care provider, and Empire BlueCross BlueShield, the state’s largest health insurer, announced today that they will collaborate through Empire’s Enhanced Personal Health Care Program.

In this program, Mount Kisco Medical Group (MKMG) and Empire hope to keep patients as healthy as possible. The agreement aims to improve Empire’s member health through coordinated care and by improving efficiencies that help to avoid duplicative services, unnecessary emergency room visits, and preventable hospital admissions.

“We are very excited about this new collaboration with Mount Kisco Medical Group and believe it will generate innovative approaches to population management through information sharing and tools to support the coordination of patient care,” said Brian Griffin, president and CEO, Empire BlueCross BlueShield. “We continue to be committed to developing new collaborative models in line with the ‘Triple Aim’ goal – achieving better population health, providing higher quality of treatment for our members and reducing the costs of care.”

"In an era where the healthcare environment is rapidly changing, it is critical for physician organizations to work with strategic partners in order to provide high quality and value to patients," said Scott D. Hayworth, MD and President CEO of MKMG. "Joining forces with Empire BlueCross BlueShield will provide our patients with access to quality and population health programs; ultimately bringing tremendous benefit to the patients and communities we serve."

Empire’s Enhanced Personal Health Care Program strategy requires the development of individualized care plans for patients with chronic or complex conditions and continuous monitoring of their health according to tested guidelines for care and services. MKMG’s care management team is trained to provide health education, care transition assistance and various other services to all members, in addition to intensive case management.

About The Mount Kisco Medical Group

The Mount Kisco Medical Group (MKMG) is a multi-specialty medical group that provides the highest quality medical care in 40 different locations throughout Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, and Ulster counties. Founded in 1946, MKMG has grown to over 450 physicians representing 40 different medical specialties with major campuses in Mount Kisco, Carmel, Katonah, Kingston, Fishkill, Jefferson Valley, Poughkeepsie and Rhinebeck. MKMG is affiliated with world class organizations: the Massachusetts General Hospital, Mount Sinai Medical Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. MKMG has on-site laboratory and radiology services, as well as endoscopy suites and infusion suites, rendering comprehensive care in one convenient location. MKMG physicians are frequently recognized as Best Doctors in respected publications: 63 of the 293 physicians featured in Westchester Magazine's Top Doctors are MKMG doctors. Additionally, Best Doctors of America® awarded 79 MKMG physicians with Top Doctor Honors. Visit http://www.mkmg.com for more information.

About Empire BlueCross BlueShield

Serving New Yorkers for 80 years, Empire BlueCross BlueShield is the largest health insurer in New York supporting nearly five million members and more than 38,000 business, union and small employers in New York. Empire BlueCross BlueShield (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 atwww.twitter.com/healthjoinin or @empirebcbs, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HealthJoinIn,or visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/healthjoinin.

Contacts

The Mount Kisco Medical Group
Sonia Young, Public Relations
914-242-1440
syoung@mkmg.com
@MKMG
or
Empire BlueCross BlueShield
Sally Kweskin, Director, Public Relations
212-476-1421
Sally.kweskin@empireblue.com
@empirebcbs

Release Summary

Mount Kisco Medical Group and Empire BlueCross BlueShield Announce Agreement to Provide an Enhanced Personal Health Care Program

Contacts

The Mount Kisco Medical Group
Sonia Young, Public Relations
914-242-1440
syoung@mkmg.com
@MKMG
or
Empire BlueCross BlueShield
Sally Kweskin, Director, Public Relations
212-476-1421
Sally.kweskin@empireblue.com
@empirebcbs