March 1, 2023
Partnership empowers independent primary-care physicians with new tools to improve affordability and maintain focus on member health, reduce unnecessary health care costs
Baltimore, MD/Bethesda, MD – CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) and Aledade, Inc. (Aledade) announced today the formation of a strategic alliance, connecting CareFirst member physicians with Aledade’s tools and resources that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of independent primary-care physicians.
Aledade helps independent primary care physicians improve patient health, helps independent practices thrive, and reduces health care costs across the entire system.
This new agreement will enable physician practices in CareFirst’s network to access the services of Aledade’s team of specialists, including onsite business support for physician practices, a technology platform that works with more than one hundred different EHRs, and health care regulatory and policy expertise.
Aledade also helps empower participating practices to focus on patient access and preventive care. To date, the company has helped save more than $1.2 billion across the health care system through more preventive care – improving health by helping patients avoid tens of thousands of unnecessary hospitalizations and visits to the Emergency Department.
“The data clearly shows us that healthier outcomes for patients are directly influenced by the relationship people share with their primary care doctors,” said Brian D. Pieninck, President and CEO of CareFirst. “Partnering with Aledade to bring their services to CareFirst providers is a crucial step toward building a prevention-based, whole-health approach to healthcare.”
Practices led by physicians can help their patients avoid hospitalizations at higher rates. A 2019 analysis of Medicare data showed that, on average, physician-led Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) produced almost 7 times the amount of savings per beneficiary than hospital-led ACOs.
“When we put clinicians back in charge, patients, practices, and society as a whole see the results,” said Aledade co-founder and CEO Farzad Mostashari, MD. “CareFirst has created a model risk arrangement that creates long-term alignment and sustainability in service to patients and their entire communities. When we can give clinicians the means to keep their patients healthy and out of the hospital, everybody benefits.”
“Through this strategic alliance, we look forward to seeing improved health outcomes and lower cost trends, as these are the core principles of value-based care,” said Pieninck.
About CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
In its 85th year of service, CareFirst, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is a not-for-profit healthcare company which, through its affiliates and subsidiaries, offers a comprehensive portfolio of health insurance products and administrative services to 3.6 million individuals and employers in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. In 2022, CareFirst invested $24.1 million to improve overall health, and increase the accessibility, affordability, safety and quality of healthcare throughout its market areas. To learn more about CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, visit our website at www.carefirst.com and our transforming healthcare page at www.carefirst.com/transformation, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.
About Aledade
Aledade, a public benefit corporation, is the largest independent primary care network in the country, helping independent practices, health centers, and clinics deliver better care to their patients and thrive in value-based care. Through its proven, scalable model, which includes cutting-edge data analytics, user-friendly guided workflows, health care policy expertise, strong payer relationships, and integrated care solutions delivered through Aledade Care Solutions, Aledade empowers physicians to succeed financially by keeping people healthy. Together with more than 1,500 practices in 45 states and the District of Columbia, Aledade shares in the risk and reward across more than 150 value-based contracts representing more than 2 million patient lives under management. To learn more, visit www.aledade.com or follow on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.
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Media Contacts:
CareFirst Media Relations
1-800-914-NEWS (6397)
mediarelations@carefirst.com
Aledade Communications
540-761-9786
press@aledade.com