Patina Medical Group has signed on with Independence Blue Cross to make its primary care services available to Medicare Advantage members.
Through the new provider agreement, Philadelphia-based Independence will include Patina's services in its Keystone 65 HMO and Personal Choice 65 PPO plans, according to an announcement released on Tuesday. Patina's primary care approach is specifically designed to target seniors and their unique needs.
The care model aims to offer personalized, convenient care that includes both virtual and in-home components as needed. Patients are assigned a care team that will work with them to design a plan that's tailored to their individual needs, goals and values.
"The health system can be complicated and frustrating for Medicare Advantage members to navigate," said Heidi Syropoulos, M.D., medical director of government markets at Independence, in a statement. "That's especially true for those who are managing multiple health conditions or who have challenges in accessing office-based care."
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The care team includes a dedicated primary care practitioner as well as a health champion, who serves a go-to resource for the patient, according to the announcement. They can assist with scheduling appointments, coordinating care across multiple providers and assisting the member in finding community resources.
"Patina helps simplify things for members by offering high-quality primary care that is easy for them to access in their homes and through the computer and phone," Syropoulos added.
Members who select Patina as a provider will still have access to other benefits in their Independence MA plan, the insurer said.