Massachusetts health plans and hospitals are collaborating on what they are referring to as a “first-of-its-kind” organization, called the Massachusetts Payer-Provider Partnership (MP3), to address healthcare affordability and access.
A partnership spokesperson told Becker’s on March 24 the organization aims to develop solutions within the scope of member payers and providers, such as streamlining administrative processes, trying innovative care and payment models, and driving efficiency with data-sharing and interoperability.
The partnership shared its inaugural members in a Feb. 26 news release; they are set to start meeting early this spring. Members include:
- Springfield, Mass.-based Baystate Health and Health New England
- Boston Medical Center Health System and Charlestown, Mass.-based WellSense Health Plan
- Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham, Mass General Brigham Health Plan and Worcester, Mass.-based Fallon Health
- Worcester-based UMass Memorial Health and UMass Memorial Health Mass Advantage
A partnership spokesperson said the original members are all part of integrated payer-provider setups, but MP3 is open to collaboration with other organizations, such as BCBS Massachusetts and Point32Health, “if there is a shared interest and strategic alignment with the organization’s work.”
“Coming together to collaborate through this type of model is something payers and providers have been wanting to do for a long time,” the spokesperson said. “Health plans were enthusiastic about the opportunity to break down traditional silos within the healthcare sector that have made partnership, change and innovation difficult.”
MP3 aims to complement other affordability efforts, including Gov. Maura Healey’s Health Care Affordability Working Group.
“[MP3] simply plays a different role given its ability to test out solutions on its own, and it could even help put into practice some of the ideas generated by other groups and efforts,” the organization said.
The organization operates under the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association as an affiliated but autonomous entity with its own board and frame of focus.
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