UnitedHealth pushes P4P measures into Advocate contract

Expect to see more contracting negotiations that end like this. After years of tensions, UnitedHealth Group has struck a deal with Chicago, IL-area based integrated delivery system Advocate Health Care under which the IDS will now be enrolled in a pay-for-performance scheme. The deal encompasses Advocate's eight area hospitals, 800 employed physicians and hundreds of physicians in a joint venture run by both independent doctors and the health system.

Under the contract, Advocate will be asked to meet quality standards, largely measures developed by the health system itself, in 30 different disease areas. For example, the measures will include incentives for keeping patients with asthma out of the emergency department. The new P4P-based contract resolves a simmering dispute between Advocate and UnitedHealth, which had gone on for four years and led to much disruption of patient relationships.

To learn more about the agreement:
- read this Chicago Tribune piece

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