Method of administering a health plan
First Claim
1. A method of compensating a health service provider providing health services in service episodes to health plan members, the method comprising sharing a portion of the cost savings resulting from the provider'"'"'s reduction of actual average cost per service episode compared to a predetermined budgeted average cost per service episode, the portion depending in part upon the provider'"'"'s average cost per service episode compared to an average cost per service episode of providers to the members, and in part upon the provider'"'"'s performance on at least one of a quality measure and a member satisfaction measure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of administering a health plan include compensating physicians to manage the cost and quality of health services provided to members of a health plan served by a plurality of physician groups. More specifically, the method includes developing a budgeted cost per episode of patient care for a program period for each of several physician groups based at least in part on the historic actual performance of each group; compiling data on actual cost per episode of patient care during the program period; comparing the group'"'"'s actual cost per episode of patient care during the program period with the group'"'"'s budgeted cost per episode of patient care for the program period, adjusted for changes in the severity of illness of the patients treated; sharing a portion of the savings resulting from a reduction in actual cost per episode of patient care with the group, the portion depending in part upon the group'"'"'s cost performance in relation to the performance of other physicians in the applicable medical specialty, and in part on the group'"'"'s performance on a quality indicator and/or patient satisfaction in relation to the performance of other physicians in the applicable medical specialty.
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Citations
45 Claims
- 1. A method of compensating a health service provider providing health services in service episodes to health plan members, the method comprising sharing a portion of the cost savings resulting from the provider'"'"'s reduction of actual average cost per service episode compared to a predetermined budgeted average cost per service episode, the portion depending in part upon the provider'"'"'s average cost per service episode compared to an average cost per service episode of providers to the members, and in part upon the provider'"'"'s performance on at least one of a quality measure and a member satisfaction measure.
- 10. A method of compensating a group of physicians providing health services in service episodes to health plan members, the method comprising sharing a portion of the cost savings resulting from the reduction of the group'"'"'s actual average cost per service episode compared to a predetermined budgeted average cost per service episode, the portion depending in part upon the group'"'"'s average cost per service episode compared to an average cost per service episode of groups providing service to the members, and in part upon the group'"'"'s performance on at least one of a quality measure and a member satisfaction measure.
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18. A method of compensating physicians for managing the cost and quality of health care services provided to members of a health plan served by a plurality of physician groups, the method comprising:
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developing a budgeted cost per episode of patient for a program period for at least one physician group based at least in part on the historic actual performance of the group;
compiling data on actual cost per episode of patient care during the program period;
comparing the group'"'"'s actual cost per episode of patient care during the program period with the group'"'"'s budgeted cost per episode of patient care for the program period, adjusted for changes in the severity of illness of the patients treated;
sharing a portion of the savings resulting from a reduction in actual cost per episode of patient care with the group, the portion depending upon the group'"'"'s performance on a quality and/or patient satisfaction indicator.
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34. A method managing the cost of heath services provided to members of a health plan served by a plurality of physician groups, by compensating physician groups for managing the cost and quality of health care services, the method comprising:
sharing with a group a portion of the cost savings resulting from that group'"'"'s reduction in the cost episode of patient care during a period from a predetermined budgeted cost per episode of patient care for that period, the portion being determined at least in part by the group'"'"'s performance on a quality and/or patient satisfaction indicator.
Specification