A new health care model

The cost of higher medical costs can’t be measured in dollars and cents alone. When the costs go up it’s not just a hit on your wallet. It also makes access to quality care more difficult for everyone.

That’s why we need a new health care model. Doctors, hospitals, and insurers need to work together to drive positive change that will improve quality and lower health care costs.

Health care affordability is a critical issue for all of us.
Every day, customers tell us that health care spending is becoming unbearable and they ask us to help them control costs. As the leading health insurer in the region, we have a responsibility to drive positive changes to improve quality and control costs. That’s why we’re putting our customers first in our contracts discussions with hospitals and physicians.

We value our relationship with each of the doctors and hospitals that provide care to our members.
But, we cannot sustain the status quo. It’s time for a new model — one that is about fair pay for quality care. We have begun partnering more closely with doctors and hospitals to identify ways we can work together to lower the cost of health care and improve its quality.

We work with health care professionals to find better solutions.
We know how much our members value their important relationship with their physicians and other health care providers. That’s why we want to keep you up to date on contracts discussions. We are working to renew agreements with our doctor and hospital partners and are proud of the new quality and cost measures included in five recent renewals.

We are pleased that Jefferson Health System (JHS), the area’s largest health system, reached an early renewal on new two-year contracts. In addition, Holy Redeemer Health System, Abington Health, and Crozer Keystone Health System recently renewed a three-year agreement with us. Meanwhile, Doylestown Hospital agreed to a four‑year agreement.

Affordability remains key.
We have begun making important changes in our contracts with hospitals and health systems as we renew our agreements with them over the next year for their continued participation in our network. Our approach focuses on balancing our commitment to fairly and competitively compensate physicians and hospitals with our responsibility to hold down premium increases for our customers. We are placing an increased emphasis on rewarding physicians and hospitals for providing better care — safer, higher-quality, and more cost-effective care — rather than just more care.

Please visit www.ibx.com/puttingcustomersfirst regularly to learn more about where we stand with our current doctor and hospital negotiations.