Why Humana is Giving $77M to Various Physician Groups

Humana will distribute $77.2 million in bonus payments to roughly 3,700 physician groups nationwide who were engaged in its Provider Quality Rewards Program in 2014. The goal is to increase the 59% of Humana individual Medicare Advantage members who have primary care physicians participating in value-based relationships, to 75% by the end of 2017. This aligns with federal initiatives to tie Medicare payment to quality, that by 2016, 30% of Medicare benefits are to be based on alternative payment models, and by 2018, 50% are to be tied to value of care.
 
The recipients of the bonuses are being recognized for improved outcomes for Medicare members during 2014 and are based on their ability to improve quality of preventive and chronic-condition management HEDIS measures. "The sheer volume of payments distributed through this year's Provider Quality Rewards Program shows that many physician groups are experiencing success as part of their shift toward value-based care," said Chip Howard, Humana's vice president of Payment Innovation in the Provider Development Center of Excellence. Humana's Provider Quality Rewards Program is part of its Accountable Care Continuum that recognizes physician group preparedness for value-based arrangements and is making strides to actually improve quality across the board. 

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