Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | December 5, 2016 | Worcester Business Journal 11 it has emphasized delivering health care under the ACO model. In a statement announcing the CMIPA acquisition, Steward said partnering with the doctors group will facilitate the entry of more patients into the kind of accountable care model being encouraged by state and federal healthcare officials, while also increasing competition in a region that is served by few providers. Steward's strategy has been to deliver health care at a relatively low cost, and it has apparently achieved this goal. A December 2015 report from Attorney General Maura Healey called the system a low-to-moderately priced healthcare system compared to other providers. According to Steward, the acquisition will benefit consumers because CMIPA physicians will accept a broader set of insurance plans. Steward noted CMIPA referral relationships with Central Massachusetts acute care facilities would not be affected. "Patients in Central Massachusetts deserve to benefit from the new focus on coordinated care. Connecting CMIPA to the Steward Health Care Network will align these exceptional physicians with our leading accountable care model," Dr. Mark Girard, president of Steward Health Care Network, said. Officials at CMIPA did not return phone calls seeking comment. UMass Memorial CEO puzzles over deal Steward isn't the only provider that's delved into accountable care. Closer to home, UMass Memorial Health Care in Worcester has launched ACO pilot pro- grams funded by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) and is planning to lead the charge on MassHealth's inaugural ACO pilot in the region. The system is in talks with smaller providers in Central Massachusetts about partnering with them on that venture. WORCESTER • FRAMINGHAM • MILFORD • WEST YARMOUTH Shepherd & Goldstein is more than a traditional CPA firm. 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They must rely on partners that truly understand their business. Dr. Eric Dickson, president and CEO of UMass Memorial Health Care, said the system had discussed a similar alignment with CMIPA early in his three-year tenure with UMass Memorial, but discussions were not fruitful. Dickson was bemused at the pending deal with Steward, saying that CMIPA had not reached out to UMass Memorial recently. "The surprise for us is the partner that they chose. Steward has a good reputation for their physician net- work, (but) there's no Steward hospi- tals in the region for them to refer patients to," Dickson said. While Steward is adamant that CMIPA patients will continue to refer patients to Central Massachusetts hos- pitals, Dickson said it's important that the system follows through. If patients are redirected to Steward's anchor hospital, Saint Elizabeth's Medical Center in Boston, for example, Dickson said patients would suffer. More for-profit care in Central Mass.? Dickson recognized Steward has been able to deliver quality healthcare at a relatively low cost through its accountable care strategy. He said it's important to remember that Steward is a for-profit organiza- tion. Most Central Massachusetts pro- viders are non- profit organiza- tions, with the exception of Tenet Health Care-owned Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester and MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham and Natick. In fact, Saint Vincent has an important connection with CMIPA. Doctors within Saint Vincent's physician group, Saint Vincent Medical Group, make up a large portion of the members of CMIPA. This, according to Dickson, forms an important link between two for-profit health care systems in Central Massachusetts, where Steward would provide contracting for Saint Vincent doctors. Erica Noonan, spokeswoman for Dallas-based Tenet Health Care's Northeast region, said CMIPA is the payer contracting vehicle for Saint Vincent Medical Group. She declined to comment on Steward's plans to acquire the CMIPA, saying Tenet has no position on the deal. Steward declined to comment spe- cifically on the possibility that it will further align with Tenet in the future, but left the door open to more partner- ships in Central Massachusetts. "Steward is always open to consid- ering new partnerships that help ensure employers and patients have access to high-quality, affordable health care options close to home," Steward spokesman Jeff Hall said in an email. "Patients in Central Massachusetts deserve to benefit from the new focus on coordinated care. Connecting CMIPA to the Steward Health Care Network will align these excep- tional physicians with our leading accountable care model." Dr. Mark Girard, president of Steward Health Care Network Dr. Eric Dickson, president & CEO, UMass Memorial Health Care W

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