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For Immediate Release
September 28, 2006
AETNA and the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Collaborate to Promote Care and Professionalism
Aetna is first health plan to recognize physician performance in AOA program
(HARTFORD, CT and CHICAGO, IL)—Aetna (NYSE: AET) and the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) today announced a collaborative relationship aimed at improving the quality of care for patients and simplifying administrative processes for physicians. Working with the AOA for the first time in the area of quality improvement, Aetna will recognize the AOA’s Clinical Assessment Program (CAP) as part of a pay-for-performance program.
CAP provides osteopathic physicians with tools to measure performance against evidence-based practice guidelines and identify opportunities for improvement in their offices. Beginning this fall, Aetna will recognize the AOA CAP for diabetes in its pay-for-performance program for primary care physicians in the Delaware Valley, which includes Southeastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware.
“Aetna believes that physicians and medical organizations should be leading the effort to establish measures evaluating performance. We are pleased to be the first health plan to work with the American Osteopathic Association to realize a shared goal of supporting and encouraging high-quality care,” said George Vermeire, D.O., Aetna medical director and AOA member. “Using the AOA CAP in our pay-for-performance program makes sense. The guidelines are accepted by physicians, and it eliminates paperwork.”
Aetna’s recognition of the AOA CAP builds on the company’s goal to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of care by working with physicians to help each member achieve optimal health. The collaboration with the AOA complements the company’s recently announced relationship with the American Board of Internal Medicine to recognize their Maintenance of Certification. Aetna also is exploring ways to incorporate the AOA CAP into other initiatives designed to promote quality improvement.
“The AOA is pleased to work with Aetna to help provide the best possible health care to patients of osteopathic physicians in that region,” said John A. Strosnider, D.O., president of the AOA.
CAP is a Web-based performance measurement program that analyzes data taken directly from patient medical records; evaluates clinical practices against evidence-based guidelines; and tracks patient outcomes to improve the quality of care. CAP participants submit data abstracted from patient charts that is compared against national benchmarks and the performance of other participants to determine whether their treatment protocols are consistent with the best standards of practice.
Three measure sets are available: diabetes; coronary artery disease and women's health screening. The diabetes measure set includes clinical indicators to assess frequency of retinal and foot exams, use of prescribed ACEI/ARBs, control of hyperlipidemia and hypertension, and frequency of testing for HgbA1c levels. An added benefit of the program is that participants receive 20 hours of AOA continuing medical education (CME) credit for each clinical practice area measure set they complete.
Aetna will accept completion of AOA’s Diabetes CAP in lieu of the diabetes chart review currently required for osteopathic family practice and internal medicine offices in the company’s Delaware Valley pay-for-performance program. Detailed information will be sent to eligible participating physicians in the region.
About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 29.9 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life, long-term care and disability plans, and medical management capabilities. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans and government-sponsored plans. www.aetna.com
About the American Osteopathic Association
The American Osteopathic Association proudly represents its professional family of 59,000 osteopathic physicians (D.O.s); promotes public health; encourages scientific research; serves as the primary certifying body for D.O.s; is the accrediting agency for osteopathic medical colleges; and has federal authority to accredit hospitals and other health care facilities.
www.osteopathic.org
Contact:
Mike Campea
American Osteopathic Association
(800) 621-1773, ext. 8043
MCampea@osteopathic.org
Karin Rush-Monroe
Aetna
(215) 775-2132
RushmonroeK@Aetna.com
ngrady@osteopathic.org
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