Dive Brief:
- CVS is partnering with Rush University health system in Chicago to coordinate care for Medicare seniors in a new accountable care organization based off CMS’ direct contracting model.
- Under the new partnership, patients getting care at MinuteClinics participating in the ACO REACH model in the Chicago area can get follow-up primary and specialty care with Rush, along with other ACO REACH organizations, CVS said in a release Monday.
- Rush will be the only Chicago-area academic medical center participating in CVS’ first accountable care organization in REACH.
Dive Insight:
The goal of the initiative is to strengthen care coordination for patients in a convenient way, according to Rush CEO Omar Lateef. Medicare patients will be able to get customized support, including home-based care, transportation support for annual wellness visits and cost sharing to help with co-pays.
“This provides another option for patients at a time when access to high-quality health care is more important than ever,” Lateef said in a statement.
The partnership builds on Rush’s experience with the Medicare Shared Savings Program, the biggest accountable care program in the U.S., CVS said. According to Mohamed Diab, the CEO of CVS’ accountable care division, it has the potential to improve longitudinal care for Rush’s population of 35,000 Medicare beneficiaries.
CVS joined ACO REACH in 2022, when the model was still known as direct contracting, and was grandfathered in to participate in REACH for the 2023 plan year. The company, which owns health insurer Aetna, covers beneficiaries in REACH in the states of Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina and New York.
CVS covers more than 80,000 aligned beneficiaries in ACO REACH across more than 4,000 providers, and more than 800 MinuteClinic locations, according to its website.
The company has said it’s looking to acquire a primary care provider as it looks to create a vertically integrated healthcare giant comprised of a health plan, pharmacy, medical clinics and more. Bloomberg reported earlier this month that CVS is exploring a $10 billion deal to purchase value-based medical group Oak Street Health, though speculation has eased amid reports that the deal wouldn’t make sense for CVS financially.
