Florida Blue and Florida Cancer Specialists Introduce Accountable Cancer Provider Program
- Amanda Bridges
- November 15, 2016
- News
Brought to you by a FLASCO 100% Membership Partner:
Fort Myers, FL – November 14, 2016…Florida Blue, Florida’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield company, and Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS), the leading community oncology/hematology practice in the state, are proud to announce a new agreement implementing an accountable provider program specific to the treatment of cancer. This program supports the highest quality and more coordinated patient-centered cancer care.
Cancer is one of the most common and devastating diseases in the United States. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), more than 1.6 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2016, and an estimated 600,000 Americans will die from the disease. Based on growth and aging of the U.S. population, NIH projects that, in the year 2020, medical expenditures for cancer will reach at least $158 billion (in 2010 dollars)— an increase of 27 percent over 2010.
An accountable provider program is an important step in moving away from the traditional payment model that focuses on fee for service to a payment model that creates value and a holistic approach to member care. Under this type of shared savings program, Florida Blue collaborates with Florida Cancer Specialists and its network of health care providers, sharing in the medical and financial responsibility for a group of patients. The overall goals of accountable provider arrangements are to improve the individual patient care experience and overall health, as well as decrease medical costs. The shared savings program benefits patients in more than 20 counties across Florida, providing data sharing and care coordination focused on both high quality and cost efficiencies.
“Florida Blue continues to launch innovative new programs across the state designed to improve member care while keeping medical costs down,” said Kirk Fischer, Florida Blue vice president of Delivery System. “Our accountable provider program with Florida Cancer Specialists will allow us to collaborate in order to provide a better care experience for our members when facing an intimidating cancer diagnosis.”
“We are pleased to team up with Florida Blue on this new initiative,” said Florida Cancer Specialists CEO Bradley Prechtl. “This partnership focuses on the value we provide to our patients. Ensuring clinically excellent, compassionate and cost-effective care in a community setting is at the heart of our mission.”
Dr. William Harwin, Founder and President of Florida Cancer Specialists, said, “Our collaboration with Florida Blue supports our commitment to provide high quality, cost effective oncology care. With the increasing cost of cancer care, we have a responsibility to partner with Florida Blue to help manage and better control the cost of care while maintaining quality metrics. FCS has the infrastructure, support team and physician leaders to make this a reality.”
Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute offers a full range of oncology and hematology services, including clinical research and the use of evidence-based medicine and proactive patient support services. FCS is a strategic site of the Sarah Cannon Research Institute, one of the largest community-based clinical trial organizations in the United States.
