Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has created a financial payment model that rewards health systems and physicians for eliminating racial and ethnic inequalities to care.
Four of the state's health systems have signed the value-based payment contracts, according to a Dec. 15 news release from the insurer. The new contracts will initially focus on measuring and rewarding equity in care in several clinical areas where inequities have been identified. Those include cancer screenings, blood pressure control and care for diabetes.
Additional categories will be added as the payment model evolves, according to the release.
The four systems that have signed agreements are:
- Dallas, Texas-based Steward Health Care Network, which has 10 hospitals in Massachusetts
- Cambridge-based Beth Israel Lahey Health
- Somerville-based Mass General Brigham
- Boston Accountable Care Organization, which is part of Boston Medical Center