At Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, we have a deep commitment to quality and providing affordable health care, and that includes a dedicated focus on equity. As part of our commitment, each year we gather and publish data for more than 1.4 million of our commercial Massachusetts members, using measures widely leveraged by health plans and clinicians to monitor health care quality.
This data has revealed inequities in many areas of patient care. In partnership with the clinicians in our network, we’re using this data to make meaningful change and to work toward our shared goal of eliminating racial disparities in the care our members receive.
Groundbreaking contracts
Our health plan is the first in Massachusetts -- and among the first in the nation -- to create a financial payment model that rewards health systems and physicians for eliminating racial and ethnic inequities in care. This pay-for-equity model links financial incentives to improvements in health equity.
These contracts focus on measuring and rewarding equity in several clinical areas, including colorectal cancer screenings, blood pressure control, and care for diabetes. More categories will be added as the payment model evolves.
The Equity Action Community and clinician-led innovation
We founded the Equity Action Community to provide opportunities for learning, collaboration, and consultative support for health care organizations in Blue Cross' value-based network. Clinicians in our Equity Action Community are developing new ways to address inequities in care and interventions that improve the equity of care that our members receive.
Read Coverage for examples of how we’re partnering with Massachusetts provider organizations to address inequities in health care.