http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/wisconsin-hospitals-slash-readmission-rates-penalties-through-partnerships-hospital-association

Aetna has long held a goal to reach 75 to 80 percent of its medical spend in value-based relationships by 2020.

The biggest health insurers are moving quickly towards to value-based care arrangements, their recent earnings reports show.

While Aetna has long-held a goal to reach 75 to 80 percent of its medical spend in value-based relationships by 2020, Aetna’s medical spend is now 45 percent tied to value, CEO Mark Bertolini said during last week’s fourth quarter earnings call.

“One way we measure our success is by how well we are able to keep our members out of the hospital and in their homes and communities,” Bertolini said. “For example, in 2016, we reduced total acute admissions by approximately 4 percent, and we deployed predictive modeling to target members at the greatest risk of readmission.”

Aetna has achieved a 27 percent reduction in readmission rates using multidisciplinary care teams that engage facilities to develop effective discharge plans, he said.