Blue Cross and Blue Shield North Carolina Saves Millions Through Value-based Care

Blue Cross and Blue Shield North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) implemented a value-based care program that achieved substantial cost savings and quality improvement while increasing provider participation in its first year. “The first full year of Blue Premier shows us what’s possible when we change the way we pay for health care,” said Rahul Rajkumar, MD, Blue Cross NC senior vice president and chief medical officer. “These preliminary results show that Blue Premier providers have stepped up to improve care for Blue Cross NC members and help make North Carolina a leader in the movement to value-based care.”

As a result of these efforts, Blue Cross NC saved $153 million and was able to distribute $85 million to program provider partners in performance-related payments. “These performance payments go back to our patients and our clinicians, with re-investments that continuously improve our system of care and support our mission to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians,” said Mark Gwynne, DO, president of UNC Health Alliance. Read more here.