Colorado Providers Recognized by Bridges to Excellence Demonstrate Superior Cost and Quality

August 24, 2018

ANN ARBOR, MI – August 24, 2018 – A recent analysis by the nonprofit research and consulting group Altarum found that Colorado health care providers recognized by the Bridges to Excellence (BTE) Program have lower average total episode costs and lower probability of experiencing a potentially avoidable complication (PAC) for three costly and prevalent chronic conditions.

The study compared BTE-recognized providers to other providers on metrics of cost and quality of care for diabetes, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. Metrics were calculated based on the PROMETHEUS Analytics episode of care definitions. BTE-recognized providers managed the costs of their patient’s episode better than their peers: 24.2% lower for hypertension care, 15.8% lower for diabetes care, and 10.9% lower for coronary artery disease care. And, fewer patients of BTE-recognized providers experienced complications. The probability of experiencing a PAC was 5.2% lower among hypertension patients and 4.7% lower among diabetes patients.

“Chronic conditions are on the rise. It is imperative that we find ways to improve patient outcomes while reducing costs and providing a positive patient experience,” says Greg Matthews, deputy director of Altarum’s Center for Value in Health Care. “Bridges to Excellence recognizes providers of exceptional care, and this new study provides evidence that they also reduce costs—effectively achieving two important pillars of the Triple Aim.”

Altarum’s Bridges to Excellence Program has been recognizing clinicians who deliver superior care for patients with chronic conditions—including asthma, cardiac care, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, diabetes, heart failure, hypertension and inflammatory bowel disease—for more than 15 years. The program assesses clinicians on performance including patient assessment and reassessment, patient education, and shared decision making, and recognizes providers who outperform their peers on a five star scale. Clinicians that meet the performance benchmarks are widely recognized on a number of payer websites and private sector transparency tools.

About Altarum
Altarum is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a better, more sustainable future through ideas and action that transform health and health care in America. Learn more at Altarum.org.

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