By Kerri Hatt
NEW YORK — Empire BlueCross BlueShield and Mount Sinai Health System have announced an agreement focused on new care models to lower healthcare costs and increase value for people in New York City. The multi-year agreement features three new care models, which provide Empire members access to Mount Sinai Emergency Triage, Treat and Transport (ET3) and community paramedicine programs.
These care models provide EMS greater flexibility to address emergency healthcare needs of Empire’s members, which can result, when appropriate, with treatment-in-place with or without telehealth. Through the ET3 model, members who call 911 and have Mount Sinai dispatched will have the option to receive, when medically appropriate, care in their home instead of going to the ED. Similarly, through the community paramedicine model, members who call a Mount Sinai physician for care can choose to have a paramedic dispatched to their home to potentially avoid a trip to the hospital. “These two models prioritize patient safety and reduce healthcare costs by reducing costly, avoidable trips to the hospital,” the release noted. ET3 is also available to Empire’s Medicaid members.
“We are on a mission to materially and measurably improve the health of all New Yorkers, and we know that during the last year people have become more open to receiving care through a variety of ways, including at home,” said Jordan Vidor, Empire BlueCross BlueShield regional vice president, provider solutions, noted.
Empire is also a participating provider in the Mount Sinai Visiting Doctors Program, an integrated care model focused on homebound members with chronic illnesses, providing a dedicated team working together to address primary and palliative care clinical and social needs.
Additionally, the new agreement details a plan for Mount Sinai and Empire to enhance bi-directional data, as part of Empire’s goal to have 80% of its members connected with real-time admissions, discharge and transfer notifications and better integration of clinical information by the end of 2022.