State of Vermont employee health care plan to participate in ACO

Administration Authorizes Blue Cross Blue Shield to Attribute State Health Care Plan Members to Accountable Care Organization Model Administered by OneCare Vermont

Vermont Business Magazine Yesterday, the State of Vermont authorized Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) to move forward with its plan to support health care payment and delivery system reform by attributing the State Employees Health Plans’ (Health Plans) members to the Accountable Care Organization (ACO) healthcare payment reform model effective January 1, 2021.

Over the past year, the Administration took the time to review and understand the ACO model as currently administered by OneCare Vermont with the Benefits Advisory Committee, a joint union/management committee created to advise the Administration on issues related to the State Health Care Plans.

BCBS contracted with OneCare to enable its commercial and self-insured plans to attribute plan members to the ACO model. This move will not impact employee premiums or co-pays, nor result in a financial impact to the Health Plans. Plan members will have the option to “opt out” of sharing their information with the ACO model and with OneCare.

“I appreciate the collaborative effort and discussions over the past year with the Benefits Advisory Committee, OneCare and Blue Cross Blue Shield,” said Secretary of Administration Susanne Young. “These meetings fostered transparency and a better understanding of the payment system delivery reform and service delivery impact, if any, on the State’s self-insured plan and its members. The Administration looks forward to further discussions with the Benefits Advisory Committee and State employee unions to address any potential employee concerns.”

“Including the State Employee Health Plan members will help meet participation goals of the all-payer model,” said Mike Smith, Secretary of the Agency of Human Services. “I met with the Benefits Advisory Committee and thank them for sharing their views and concerns regarding health care reform, which will in turn help with continued efforts to reboot the system.”