Albany, NY (PRWEB) August 22, 2012

Its a big honor for a local health plan as CDPHP is asked to join the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for a major health care announcement. CDPHP president and CEO, Dr. John D. Bennett, joined CMS as it released the names of primary care practices that have been selected to participate in the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative (CPC), an innovative public-private partnership designed to improve the quality and efficiency of health care.

Earlier this year, CMS selected New Yorks Capital District and the Hudson Valley as one of seven markets in the nation to participate in the CPC. Under the initiative, CMS will pay primary care practices a care management fee, initially set at an average of $ 20 per beneficiary per month, to support enhanced, coordinated services on behalf of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries.

We are thrilled to be partnering with CMS on this groundbreaking initiative designed to improve care and control costs, said John D. Bennett, MD, president and CEO, CDPHP. Four years ago, CDPHP began the work of practice transformation and payment reform when we launched our Enhanced Primary Care Initiative (EPC). The program has gained national attention after demonstrating that patients get higher-quality, more cost-effective health care when primary care doctors are paid in a manner that supports spending more time with the sicker patients.

Of the 75 local practices selected to participate in the CPC initiative, 50 percent are active participants in CDPHPs EPC program. For the full list of local practices selected for the CPC, click here.

Primary care practices play a vital role in our health care system and we are looking at ways to better support them in their efforts to coordinate care for their patients said Acting CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner. By engaging in this unprecedented and innovative public-private partnership we aim to create a payment model that allows our primary care practices to take a lead role in delivering improved overall coordinated care for their patients. Our goal is to see healthier families across our nation and to generate savings for providers, insurers and taxpayers.

In January 2013, a formal plan including quality measurements and definitions is expected to be released. At the same time, CMS is also expecting to begin sending the first payments to providers.

For additional information or to speak with Dr. Bennett, please contact Ali Skinner at 518-605-4497.

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