Aetna And University Of Maryland Quality Care Network Collaborate

1/23/17

Aetna (NYSE: AET) today announced a new value-based care collaboration with the University of Maryland Quality Care Network (UMQCN). This arrangement, which will span 14 Maryland counties, is designed to improve the quality of care and patient experience while lowering health care costs.

The three-year accountable care relationship with UMQCN includes the employed physicians of the University of Maryland Medical System as well as independent community physician practices. This robust network includes more than 320 physicians who are committed to improving patient outcomes, reducing costs and increasing patient satisfaction.

The arrangement will cover approximately 24,000 members enrolled in commercial and Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) plans effective immediately.

“Aetna is committed to working with health care organizations nationwide to provide services that support value-driven, patient-centered care,” said Michael Bucci, executive director of Aetna’s Capitol Market. “We’re excited for this new collaboration with UMQCN, which is known for its comprehensive approach to population health and the coordination of patient care across all settings.”

“The University of Maryland Quality Care Network is pleased to collaborate with Aetna as we build a partnership to improve healthcare outcomes, enhance patient and provider experiences and reduce health care costs in Maryland,” said Stacy Garrett-Ray, M.D., M.P.H., president of the UMQCN and VP/Medical Director of Population Health for the University of Maryland Medical System. “We are committed to this mission and look forward to partnering with Aetna to improve the quality of life for our patients.”

The relationship between Aetna and UMQCN will feature a new model of health care delivery designed to offer the following benefits for consumers:

  • Enhanced coordination of care among doctors and other care providers;
  • Better management of patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart failure;
  • Decreasing avoidable emergency room visits and hospital readmissions through proactive management by care teams;
  • Advanced technology and data for providers, allowing them to better assess the health care needs of their patients; and
  • Better health care outcomes for patients.


The collaboration between Aetna and UMQCN showcases their collective goal to improve upon the overall quality of patient care by measuring efficiencies and implementing a set of clinical quality measures to help reduce health care costs. By encouraging efficiency and quality care, this arrangement will result in greater clinical engagement between Aetna and UMQCN’s physician network.

Today, about 6.2 million Aetna members nationally receive care from doctors committed to a value-based approach, with more than 40 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. Aetna currently provides health benefits to more than 600,000 people throughout Maryland.

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 http://www.aetna.com/ and learn about how Aetna is helping to build a healthier world. @AetnaNews

About University of Maryland Medical System

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) currently includes 12 health systems and hospitals across Maryland including the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center; University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center; University of Maryland Medical Center; University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus; University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute; University of Maryland Shore Regional Health; University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center; and University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health System, as well as the freestanding University of Maryland Shore Emergency Center at Queenstown and the University of Maryland Shore Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Chestertown. UMMS also operates Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital as a joint venture with Johns Hopkins and also operates University of Maryland Medical System Health Plans for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.

About University of Maryland Quality Care Network

The University of Maryland Quality Care Network (UMQCN) is an integrated network of physicians and practices focused on improving health outcomes for patients. UMQCN (http://umms.org/services/um-quality-care-network) contracts with private insurance carriers as well as government (Medicare Advantage, Medicare ACO, and Medicaid) payers and self-insured employers. Our focus is on improving quality, reducing healthcare costs and increasing both patient and provider satisfaction, helping transition providers to a more value-based model of health care delivery.

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