Five major independent Maryland-based health systems with a combined total of ten hospitals have agreed to create the Advanced Health Collaborative, LLC (AHC), which will offer its members the ability, without merger, to share ideas and explore opportunities to enhance the quality of health care, reduce costs and improve the health of Marylanders – the “Triple Aim.”

AHC members are Adventist HealthCare, LifeBridge Health, Mercy Health Services, Peninsula Regional Health System, and Trivergent Health Alliance which includes Frederick Regional Health System, Meritus Health and Western Maryland Health System.

The agreement comes as all hospital systems in Maryland move into their second year under a new global budget reimbursement system. Since January 1, 2014, Maryland hospitals have received a predetermined reimbursement that is based on the size of the populations they serve, rather than payment for each service they provide. The shift to a global budget means hospital systems now focus more on the value of care they provide while treating illness and less on patient volumes. The ultimate goal of the global budget system is for hospitals to better manage the health of the people they serve.

To achieve this goal, many hospital systems are now focusing on primary care and prevention under a new health care approach known as “population health,” which includes using many community-based programs such as helping people to coordinate their medical care or manage their prescriptions. Hospitals may also help arrange access to behavioral treatments and a broad range of social services. By helping people in their communities stay well, health systems should reduce the number of hospital admissions and costs while continuing to develop ways to improve the quality of health care, fulfilling the goals of the Triple Aim.

AHC also offers members a collective and collaborative voice in discussions regarding the changing health care landscape in Maryland.  AHC may serve as an advocate for its members in discussions with state and federal agencies working on policies that affect AHC members. AHC might also work with other organizations (such as physician groups, long-term care providers and other stakeholders) to explore potential regional or statewide initiatives to meet the shared goals of population health.
From March 2 MedChi News