Aetna Launches NorCal ACO Initiative

The Santa Clara Valley Individual Practice Association has formed an accountable care collaborative with insurer Aetna.

The agreement, which will commence next month, includes more coordinated management of SCCIPA's Aetna-enrolled patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes and asthma. It will be branded as part of Aetna's Whole Health product line, which touts coordinated care for small and medium-sized employer groups.

Financial terms of the arrangement were not disclosed, nor how many of Aetna's enrollees are involved in the project. An Aetna spokesperson did not respond Wednesday for request seeking comment.

SCCIPA has about 800 physicians, including more than 550 specialists, 100,000 lives and contracts for care with eight different hospitals in Santa Clara County.

"This collaboration with Aetna allows us to provide a strong network for the Whole Health plans, which will offer choice, flexibility and access to patients in Santa Clara County," said J. Kersten Kraft, M.D., SCCIPA's chief executive officer.

Aetna currently has an ACO arrangement with Sharp Healthcare in San Diego, through its Rees-Stealy Medical Group, and with North American Medical Management in the Inland Empire. Most of its other ACO arrangements are in the eastern U.S.

Along with Aetna, Blue Shield of California and Anthem Blue Cross of California have multiple ACOs or similar arrangements in place statewide.

"Aetna's agreement with SCCIPA is another example of how we are working with physician groups to give our members access to a superior health care experience,” said Mark Reynolds, president of Aetna's Northern California division.