Group Health and Providence have created an integrated physician organization in Spokane, similar to the accountable care organization in development here in Whatcom County. Read more here. Continue reading »
Category Archives: Accountable Care Organizations
Transforming Healthcare in Whatcom County Phase II
Phase II of the “Transforming Healthcare in Whatcom County” project is well underway. This Subcommittee Report outlines the progress of our task forces to date. You can also catch up on the project by reviewing the Phase I Executive Report. Continue reading »
Nation’s Largest HIE System Coming to Chicago
Plans are underway in Chicago to develop the MetroChicago Health Information Exchange (HIE), expected to serve 9.4 million patients. WAHA, through its Transforming Health Care project, hopes to develop a similar system here in Whatcom County. HIEs have the potential to improve quality of care and health outcomes and reduce health care costs by allowing providers … Continue reading »
A Prediction for the Future of Health Insurance Providers
Will Accountable Care Organizations eliminate the need for health insurance companies? This New York Times commentary offers an interesting prediction. Continue reading »
Community Organizing Group for Health
The Community Organizing Group for Health (COGH), a key component of the Transforming Health Care in Whatcom County Project, has just signed their charter! It contains a list of goals that the COGH feels are necessary to adequately represent the community in the transformation of the Whatcom County health care system. To learn more about … Continue reading »
WAHA Awarded Federal Grant for Care Transitions Project
WAHA is pleased to announce it has been recommended by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for a federal grant award to fund a new Care Transitions program called Project Impact. This is a multi-year award of up to $5.7 million that will reimburse the cost of assisting patients to make safe transitions between care … Continue reading »
Perspectives on Developing Accountable Care Organizations
The New England Journal of Medicine has published two recent blog posts that offer perspective on creating Accountable Care Organizations. In Achieving Accountable Care — “It’s Not About the Bike,” ACOs are described as the vehicles for achieving improved care, reduced costs and better outcomes, with their ultimate success riding on health care delivery systems. Building … Continue reading »
