Aetna, Virtua partner up in health care ACO

South Jersey’s Virtua Health and insurer Aetna announced Wednesday that they are forming a new Accountable Care Organization as part of the ongoing health care industry trend toward patient-centered care.The collaboration intends to improve the quality of patient care, create new choices for consumers and lower overall health care costs, the two said in a news release. Alongside the ACO, the Virtua Physician Partners network of community doctors will lead efforts to promote efficiency, care coordination and improved communication.

“We are very pleased to introduce this agreement with Aetna and develop a shared vision of health care,” Virtua CEO and President Richard P. Miller said in a prepared statement. “This collaboration will offer value-based care in the South Jersey region that reflects Virtua’s standards for quality and affordability.”

The Aetna Whole Health-Virtua plan will be introduced later this year in the southern New Jersey market, using Virtua’s system of hospitals, outpatient facilities, urgent care centers and more, with the support of the physicians in the partnership network.

“Aetna is working to produce more healthy days for its members,” Michael Costa, executive director for Aetna’s New Jersey market, said in a statement. “We’re moving toward new arrangements that reward hospitals and doctors for providing better, more efficient care, rather than simply more care. We’re excited to announce this collaboration with Virtua.”

Aetna and Virtua said that, by teaming up on this ACO, they will help consumers with their care options through:

• Developing co-branded, commercial health care plans for businesses and consumers;
• Offering a competitive, affordable plan that will save users money; and
• Improving overall health care outcomes.

Virtua and Aetna have partnered on other ACO initiatives in the past.