(NewMediaWire) - October 29, 2014 - SEATTLE - Regence today announced that six hospitals and medical groups across its four-state region have achieved improvements in HEDIS quality measures and high patient satisfaction scores since they entered into collaborative care agreements with Regence on Jan. 1, 2013. In addition to the improvements in quality, these providers received total incentive payments of $3.7 million as a result of savings generated through these collaborative care agreements.

These strategic provider partners exceeded national Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) quality benchmarks in several areas. HEDIS is a tool used by more than 90 percent of America's health plans to measure performance on important dimensions of care and service. All providers excelled in the areas of annual monitoring for patients on persistent medication and breast cancer screening; and some providers also improved in the areas of preventive screenings, management of patients with asthma, comprehensive diabetes care, or treatment of patients with cardiovascular conditions.

Patient satisfaction scores for all of these providers were above 85 percent.

Since 2013, Regence has put in place 49 agreements with providers across its four states. Currently more than 160,000 Regence members receive their care from providers participating in these arrangements designed to improve health care quality while containing medical costs.

The providers included in the results are Adventist Health in Oregon; Central Utah Clinic in Utah; Lakeshore Clinic, MultiCare Health System, The Everett Clinic, and Walla Walla Clinic in Washington.

Regence is continuing to expand its comprehensive accountable health strategy, known as Regence HealthAdvance, within the Regence family of companies in Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington to foster collaborative physician-patient relationships that improve quality of care. Additional collaborative care arrangements are being established on an ongoing basis.

According to the American Hospital Association Resource Center, there were 626 Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in the United States as of May 2014. An estimated 20.5 million lives are covered by ACOs, according to their research.

“It’s clear that these collaborative payment models with these providers have been successful in advancing the Triple Aim goals of improving the health of patients and their care experience, and lowering costs,” said Richard Popiel, M.D. M.B.A, executive vice president of Health Care Services and chief medical officer for Regence. “We have demonstrated that by working together with our provider partners, we can create value for our members and patients.”

Regence HealthAdvance is Regence’s portfolio of clinical solutions to transform healthcare delivery through partnership, accountability, and quality. This puts the provider and the patient at the center of the solution to foster collaborative relationships that lead to greater value, better health outcomes, and an enhanced member experience. Since 2007, Regence has worked with providers, employers, and individual members throughout its four-state region to implement collaborative care models.

About Regence affiliated companies The Regence affiliated companies serve more than two million members through Regence BlueShield of Idaho, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah and Regence BlueShield (selected counties in Washington). Each health plan is a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The Regence affiliated companies are committed to improving the health of its members and communities and to transforming the health care system. For more information, please visit www.regence.com or follow us on Twitter.