A fledgling alliance of seven independent Connecticut hospitals has signed an accountable care agreement with insurer Aetna, the Hartford health insurer announced.
The ACO is the first major news out of the Value Care Alliance since forming last year.
Members include Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, Griffin Hospital in Derby, Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London, St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport and the Western Connecticut Health Network’s Danbury, New Milford and Norwalk hospitals.
The agreement includes more than 40,000 Aetna commercial health plan customers who received care from any of the seven member hospitals over the past two years — and any new patients following the start of the deal.
Financial terms were not disclosed. The ACO model allows insurers to offer financial incentives to providers who reduce costs and improve health outcomes for large populations of patients.
Aetna will track the percentage of patients who receive recommended preventative care and screening, as well as reductions in avoidable hospital readmissions and emergency room visits, and other metrics.
