SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--First Choice Health, a Seattle-based, physician and hospital owned company that serves the Northwestern United States with more than 75,000 providers and 312 Hospitals in their PPO network and offers Third Party Administrative services to thousands of employees through self-insured employers throughout the Northwestern United States and MultiCare Health System and its Accountable Care Organization MultiCare Connected Care (MCC), have announced a new contract that creates access to MCC’s clinically integrated network for First Choice clients. MCC’s network includes five hospitals, 13 urgent care clinics, 11 Redi-Clinics in Rite Aid stores, plus:
- More than 450 primary care providers
- More than 1,200 specialists
- More than 260 clinic locations
- Six emergency departments
MultiCare and First Choice Health will focus on improving the patient experience and provide high-quality, cost-effective, and comprehensive care through a value-based reimbursement structure. The contract is specifically designed for self-insured employers in the region.
First Choice Health and MultiCare have been working together for many years with self-funded employers to improve the quality of care while controlling costs. Adding this value-based option and high performing network to First Choice’s offerings for plan sponsors is a continuation of these cost and health improvement efforts by the two companies.
“First Choice Health has been the health plan administrator for the 10,000 self-insured employees of MultiCare for several years, and together we have been aligned to produce greater cost savings while maintaining the high quality of care and convenience for their employees,” said John Robinson, M.D., chief medical officer at First Choice Health.
Dr. Robinson added: “The new contract arrangement allows us to offer lower rates to employers through MultiCare Connected Care’s shared commitment to embracing a new approach to health care delivery.”
Curtis Taylor, chief marketing and sales officer, also noted that stop loss partners have embraced the new contract and, as a result, will be able to offer more competitive stop loss premium rates for self-insured employers. “This is a win-win for the patient, the employers, and the clinically integrated delivery system, by providing the right incentives that reward great performance and better health,” Taylor said.
“There has been strong receptivity to the ‘pay for value’ model with payers and plan sponsors in the Puget Sound area. We want to be able to work effectively with these organizations to continue to lead improvements in health and healing and to improve the overall health of our populations through innovative models like the new First Choice MCC relationship,” said Christopher Kodama, MD, president of MultiCare Connected Care.
For more information, visit www.fchn.com or www.multicareconnectedcare.com.
About First Choice Health
First Choice Health is a Seattle-based, physician and hospital owned company that serves the Northwestern United States. We have provided network, administrative and client services since 1985. Just under one million people use our array of products and services in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and select areas of North Dakota and South Dakota.
About MultiCare Health System
MultiCare Health System is a not-for-profit health care organization with more than 10,000 employees and a comprehensive network including Allenmore Hospital, Auburn Medical Center, Good Samaritan Hospital, Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, Tacoma General Hospital, MultiCare Medical Associates, affiliated physicians, as well as numerous primary care, specialty and urgent care clinics and community outreach services.
About MultiCare Connected Care
MultiCare Connected Care, a wholly owned subsidiary of MultiCare Health System, is an accountable care organization that supports a clinically integrate network called MultiCare Connected Care Network. This provider network is comprised of MultiCare and select non-MultiCare-employed health providers, including physicians and other health care providers, hospitals, clinics, and health care services such as imaging, laboratory, and pharmacy that are connected to one another to transform the way care is delivered to improve the health of our region.