Newswise — SEATTLE – (March 22, 2016) – Virginia Mason Hospital and Seattle Medical Center has been designated as the Center of Excellence for total joint replacement surgery by the Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) as part of the state agency’s continuing efforts to pay for value instead of volume. Virginia Mason, with a total joint replacement program rated among the best in the nation, was the only medical center in the state selected.
Beginning in January 2017, individuals enrolled in the Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB) Program Uniform Medical Plan will be able to choose Virginia Mason for knee and hip replacement. HCA is also reviewing options to create an incentive, such as no deductibles or co-insurance, for PEBB enrollees to choose Virginia Mason. Total joint replacement is historically one of the costliest and most variably priced medical procedures in the nation.
“We are delighted to have been chosen by the Health Care Authority as the Center of Excellence for this important program,” said Virginia Mason Chairman and CEO Gary S. Kaplan, MD. “At Virginia Mason, we are committed to providing high-quality, appropriate care at a predictable cost.”
“Our teams are renowned for their expertise and success at helping to improve our patients’ quality of life,” added Lyle Sorensen, MD, chief of orthopedic surgery at Virginia Mason. In the Center of Excellence model:•Virginia Mason uses evidence-based best practices as recommended by the Bree Collaborative, a state program that seeks ways to improve health care quality, outcomes and affordability. •Virginia Mason assumes financial risk for preventable surgical complications and infections.•Virginia Mason’s clinical team coordinates patient care and encourages shared decision-making with the patient.•HCA reimburses in what is called a “bundled payment,” one sum for the entire range of care, including diagnosis, surgery and rehabilitation.
“This is another big step in our state’s move toward value-based purchasing,” said HCA Chief Medical Officer Dan Lessler, MD. “Total joint replacements can improve quality of life for our PEBB program members, but this procedure also has potential for serious complications and poor outcomes. We are focused on expecting high-quality, evidence-based care for our members, not just paying for services.”
HCA chose Virginia Mason following a competitive bidding process that included a requirement for demonstrating high-quality outcomes.
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