Aetna and Crossover Health have partnered to introduce an innovative primary care service for Seattle employers. This hybrid care model integrates into health plans, addressing healthcare access and cost issues with a fixed-fee, value-based approach. Aetna Advanced Primary Health, starting from January 1st, offers comprehensive care through Crossover Health Centers. The partnership aims to expand the model to other markets, emphasizing holistic health, mental health, and physical therapy. This collaboration marks progress in true value-based care, promising enhanced outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and widespread impact.
A pioneering collaboration has been forged between Aetna and tech-driven primary care group Crossover Health to offer comprehensive primary care solutions to businesses and their employees in the Seattle region. This innovative hybrid care model, seamlessly integrated into a health plan, addresses the mounting challenges of healthcare access and expenses by adopting a fixed-fee, value-centered payment structure, as outlined by company executives.
Named Aetna Advanced Primary Health, this novel plan benefit is set to take effect from January 1st. It will initially be introduced as a pilot program, catering to self-insured employers and plan sponsors overseeing over 51 employees. The initiative will extend care services through two Crossover Health Centers located within the Seattle metropolitan area.
Anticipating future expansion, Aetna and Crossover are planning to introduce the Advanced Primary Health model into other markets, as stated by company executives in an interview with Fierce Healthcare.
Catherine Gaffigan, M.D., President of Aetna’s Northwest-Mountain Market, emphasized the significance of this innovation, citing it as a response to the demands for pioneering solutions in the commercial insurance sector. She underscored the value-driven nature of the partnership with Crossover, aimed at dismantling obstacles to healthcare access. Gaffigan also highlighted that Aetna was drawn to collaborating with Crossover Health due to its holistic approach encompassing not just traditional primary care, but also mental health, physical therapy, and chiropractic services.
In the newly devised fixed-fee payment model, Crossover Health will bear the responsibility for the entire cost of care. Furthermore, this collaboration addresses cost concerns by offering zero-cost sharing for health plan members.
Gaffigan conveyed Aetna’s enthusiasm for bringing this innovative approach to the market. She indicated that the endeavor stands out among existing value-centered care arrangements, serving as a significant advancement in this direction. The provision of a zero-dollar benefit for members was highlighted as a vital step in encouraging engagement with the healthcare system while maintaining affordability. Gaffigan also acknowledged the exceptional consumer experience facilitated by Crossover’s services.
The partnership between Aetna, a healthcare insurance giant, and Crossover Health offers an opportunity for the latter to deeply integrate with a health plan partner. Scott Shreeve, M.D., Founder and CEO of Crossover Health, expressed his excitement about combining Aetna’s expertise with Crossover’s care model, which encompasses both virtual and physical care centers. This collaboration enables the creation of a seamless, integrated offering that leverages the strengths of both entities.
Employers in the Seattle area, including prominent sports equipment company Brooks Sports, have embraced Aetna’s new health plan benefit. Gaffigan expressed the organization’s eagerness to advocate for this plan and its focus on primary health in the Seattle region.
This collaboration between Aetna and Crossover Health comes at a time when the primary care sector is witnessing significant changes, with retailers making strategic inroads into the healthcare domain. With giants like Amazon and Walgreens making substantial investments, the landscape is evolving rapidly.
Crossover Health, as its name implies, introduces a hybrid medical care model that encompasses both virtual and physical healthcare services. The group was founded in 2010 to aid self-funded employers in curbing healthcare costs while ensuring coordinated, high-quality care. This partnership extends Crossover’s reach and offers a promising new approach to healthcare delivery.
Both Aetna and Crossover Health are optimistic about the success of this venture, with the potential for rapid expansion into other markets nationwide. Through this collaboration, Aetna’s Advanced Primary Health model will provide members access to a comprehensive care team, offering primary care, mental health services, physical therapy, health coaching, and care navigation.
Crossover Health’s hybrid care model, which encompasses virtual care networks and near-site health centers, empowers members to choose their preferred mode of care delivery. By focusing on prevention, social determinants of health, and proactive engagement, Crossover aims to drive down costs while enhancing care quality and health outcomes.
As employers increasingly take ownership of their healthcare spending, the newly introduced health plan benefit by Crossover Health aims to reduce costs while enhancing care quality and overall health outcomes. Both organizations see this as an opportunity to create a significant impact on the healthcare landscape.
This partnership represents a step forward in supporting true value-based care, aligning with the industry’s ongoing efforts to transition from traditional fee-for-service models toward rewarding positive outcomes. The comprehensive nature of the care model, which includes mental health and physical therapy, underscores the commitment to holistic health and wellness.
