Blue Cross Blue Shield Recognizes
Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute
for Quality in Value-Based Cancer Care
Fort Myers, Florida, April 19th, 2018… Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) has been recognized by Blue Cross Blue Shield as a Blue Distinction® Center for Cancer Care. FCS is the only community hematology and oncology practice in the state of Florida to be awarded this recognition.
By combining nationally consistent quality criteria with locally effective value-based programs, the Blue Distinction Centers for Cancer Care deliver maximum value to members battling cancer by aligning health care payments with improved health outcomes. The designation is available for all cancer types and various care settings, including physician groups, cancer centers, hospitals and accountable care organizations (ACOs).
Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute received the designation by incorporating patient-centered and data-driven practices to better coordinate cancer care and improve quality and safety, under a value-based payment model. Blue Distinction Centers for Cancer Care are reimbursed based on how they perform against both quality and cost outcome targets in order to receive incentives and rewards for better health outcomes – rather than traditional fee-for-service. Care delivery transformation to improve quality and affordability is most successful when accompanied by transformation to a value based payment model.
FCS CEO, Brad Prechtl, MBA, stated, “Florida Cancer Specialists is honored to be awarded the Blue Card Distinction from Blue Cross Blue Shield. As a national designation, the program acknowledges FCS in a “preferred” status on the provider directory and endorses FCS as a high-quality, value-based provider.”
FCS Founder & President, Dr. Bill Harwin, said, “FCS is the only community oncology provider in Florida with this designation. After more than thirty years of practice in the state, Florida Cancer Specialists is honored to be nationally recognized for our world-class medicine and hometown care.”
FCS Chief Revenue Cycle Officer, Sarah Cevallos, added, “We have been a long-term partner Florida Blue to ensure their members and our patients experience the highest quality cancer care. We are very appreciative to be recognized as a Blue Distinction Center for Cancer Care. Our daily effort emphasizes our joint commitment in the evolution from volume-based to high quality value-based care. This is truly a team effort of the entire company.”
“Cancer patients are unique, and so is the care that they receive,” said Jennifer Atkins, Vice President of Network Solutions for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. “Cancer patients often receive different kinds of specialized care in multiple settings with perhaps surgery at a distant medical center but chemotherapy at a local hospital. Medical professionals and facilities designated as Blue Distinction Centers for Cancer Care provide coordinated patient care and communication under a value-based payment model.”
Since 2006, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality specialty care in the areas of bariatric surgery, cancer care, cardiac care, knee and hip replacements, maternity care, spine surgery and transplants while encouraging health care professionals to improve the care they deliver.
For more information about the program and for a complete list of designated doctors and medical facilities, please visit bcbs.com/bluedistinction.
About Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 36 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide health care coverage for one in three Americans. BCBSA provides health care insights through The Health of America Report series and the national BCBS Health Indexsm. For more information on BCBSA and its member companies, please visit bcbs.com. We also encourage you to connect with us on Facebook, check out our videos on YouTube, follow us on Twitter and check out our blog.
About Blue Distinction Centers
Blue Distinction Centers (BDC) met overall quality measures for patient safety and outcomes, developed with input from the medical community. A local Blue Plan may require additional criteria for providers located in its own service area; for details, contact your local Blue Plan. Blue Distinction Centers+ (BDC+) also met cost measures that address consumers’ need for affordable healthcare. Each provider’s cost of care is evaluated using data from its local Blue Plan. Providers in CA, ID, NY, PA, and WA may lie in two local Blue Plans’ areas, resulting in two evaluations for cost of care; and their own local Blue Plans decide whether one or both cost of care evaluation(s) must meet BDC+ national criteria. National criteria for BDC and BDC+ are displayed on bcbs.com. Individual outcomes may vary. For details on a provider’s in-network status or your own policy’s coverage, contact your local Blue Plan and ask your provider before making an appointment. Neither Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association nor any Blue Plans are responsible for non-covered charges or other losses or damages resulting from Blue Distinction or other provider finder information or care received from Blue Distinction or other providers.
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