PHILADELPHIA, PA--(Marketwired - October 11, 2016) - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has selected Independence Blue Cross (Independence) to partner in its new Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) initiative, the largest-ever initiative to transform how primary care is delivered and paid for in the United States. "We are pleased that CMS selected Independence to participate in CPC+," said Anthony Coletta, M.D., MBA, president of Independence's Facilitated Health Networks. "We've been working to restore primary care to its rightful place in the health care system and CPC+ validates those efforts. We're proud to be part of the national initiative."

The five-year CPC+ model will be implemented starting January 2017 in 14 markets across the United States, including the Greater Philadelphia region -- the only major metropolitan city included in the initiative. The initiative is designed to give primary care practices greater flexibility and resources to invest in improving the quality and efficiency of care they provide patients, and reduce unnecessary health care utilization.

CPC+ builds on the Comprehensive Primary Care initiative that CMS launched in late 2012 and that will end December 31, 2016. The goals of CPC+ include:

• Supporting patients with serious or chronic diseases achieve health goals
• Giving patients 24-hour access to care and health information
• Delivering preventive care
• Engaging patients and their families in their own care
• Working together with insurers, hospitals and other clinicians, including specialists, to provide better-coordinated care

"Our decision to apply for and participate in CPC+ was an easy one," said Dr. Coletta. "The long-standing history and proven track record we have of working with hospitals and doctors to provide quality, affordable care to our members, aligns perfectly with the goals of CPC+."

Independence primary care providers in the Greater Philadelphia market -- which includes Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, and Philadelphia County -- and who met other CMS eligibility criteria were able to apply to participate in CPC+ through September 15, 2016. CMS will be selecting and informing providers about their status as a participant in November 2016.

About Independence Blue Cross
Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurance organization in southeastern Pennsylvania. With our affiliates, we serve nearly 8.5 million people in 32 states and the District of Columbia, including more than 2.5 million in the region. For nearly 80 years, we have been enhancing the health and wellness of the people and communities we serve by delivering innovative and competitively priced health care products and services; pioneering new ways to reward doctors, hospitals, and other health care professionals for coordinated, quality care; and supporting programs and events that promote wellness. To learn more, visit www.ibx.com. Connect with us on Facebook at ibx.com/facebook and on Twitter at @ibx. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.