Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts recently entered into a partnership with American Well on a new telemedicine pilot that will permit direct engagement for consumers with their health plans and providers.
The pilot, dubbed WellConnection, will last two years and will initially target a range of conditions, from monitoring recovery from concussions to wellness coaching to follow-ups with patients on medications, according to the organizations. It may also include care coordination after a hospitalization with the intent of preventing a readmission. It will include the use of laptops, smartphones and tablets.
The pilot will begin with two physician groups from the health plan’s Alternative Quality Contract — Emerson Physician Hospital Organization and Lowell General Physician Hospital Organization — along with Blue Cross nurse care managers. The AQC, as it’s know, is a new payment model that emphasizes prevention and quality and financially rewards physicians for positive health outcomes, which has been shown to reduce costs over a four-year period, according to the Boston-based health plan.
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Another element the pilot is looking to improve is the integration of behavioral health and primary care through the use of telemedicine, the health plan said.
Mill City Medical Group, Ltd. of Lowell and the office of Damian Folch, MD of Chelmsford, are the participating practices for Lowell General Physician Hospital Organization. Emerson PHO is still in the process of identifying its participating practices.
“The value of telemedicine will be fully realized when physician, patient and health plan goals are aligned — which is why we are offering this program with select physicians in our Alternative Quality Contract” said Gregory LeGrow, director of network innovation at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, in a statement.
For Boston-based American Well, the news comes less than a week after being selected as the American Telemedicine Association’s first accredited telehealth provider. It also raised $80 million in a Series C round late last year.
