Aetna (NYSE: AET) announced today that it has signed a pay-for-performance agreement with Regional Women Health Group, a large OB/GYN physician group committed to ensuring evidence-based women’s health treatment for its patients.

Aetna, Regional Women Health Group and the individual physician practices will implement a performance incentive program that recognizes and rewards doctors who meet or exceed agreed-upon targets for patient safety, quality and efficiency.

In the pay-for-performance model, the providers will select performance measures and targets that are intended to achieve some or all of the following objectives:

  • Care that is clinically effective and efficient;
  • Care that meets or exceeds clinical quality standards and results in quality and outcome improvements for members;
  • Care practices that promote member safety; and
  • Administrative efficiencies that improve the timeliness and transactional costs of administration.

“This is Aetna’s first OB/GYN pay-for-performance collaboration in New Jersey,” said Michael Costa, Aetna’s executive director for the state. “We’re excited to offer an innovative program that aims to improve quality and efficiency while improving the experience of patients.”

“Regional Women’s Health Group is proud to have been selected to work with Aetna in its pay-for-performance program,” said Robert Baron, vice president of planning and development for Regional Women’s Health Group. “Our physicians are fully committed to providing high-quality care to our patients while maintaining a vigilant focus on delivering care in a cost effective manner. As the largest OB/GYN and fertility practice in New Jersey, we have the ability to make a significant impact on a statewide level.”

Aetna is working with health care organizations nationwide to develop products and services that support value-driven, patient-centered care for health care consumers. Nationally today, about 5.8 million Aetna members receive care from doctors committed to the value-based approach, with 30 percent of Aetna claims payments going to doctors and providers who practice value-based care. Aetna has committed to increasing that number to 75 percent by 2020.

About Regional Women Health

Regional Women's Health Group is an independent physician practice with 146 providers throughout 56 locations in New Jersey. The group provides comprehensive obstetrics, gynecology, fertility, imaging, and laboratory services to over 300,000 women throughout the state. Regional Women's Health Group physicians have consistently been recognized as high-quality, patient-friendly, and cost-effective providers of health care in New Jersey.

About Aetna

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving an estimated 46.7 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services, workers' compensation administrative services and health information technology products and services. Aetna's customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com and learn about how Aetna is helping to build a healthier world. @AetnaNews