Expanding value-based care in southeast Wisconsin
Employers throughout southeast Wisconsin have made it clear: They’re looking to offer their employees access to both quality and affordable health care.
UnitedHealthcare is focused on transforming how health care is delivered and paid for through the integration of our nationwide-leading network, product and clinical strategy to deliver better health outcomes. With that in mind, UnitedHealthcare introduced NexusACO to the Wisconsin market, which became effective on Jan. 1, 2023.
NexusACO features top-performing providers – considered “tier 1” providers – from throughout southeast Wisconsin and across the country that have collaborated with us to help reach our goal of providing better care for our members.
The following will be considered tier 1 providers at the launch of NexusACO for eight southeastern Wisconsin counties of Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha and Kenosha: Advocate Aurora Health in WI; Froedtert Health and Medical College of Wisconsin, and Children’s Wisconsin.
UnitedHealthcare is collaborating with high-performing health systems that have a proven record of working toward offering high quality, lower costs and a better patient experience. The plan pulls the triple aim focus – improving health care affordability, outcomes and the patient experience – together to provide the member with direct access to care from these established providers.
Compared to non-NexusACO plans, employers with NexusACO had:
- 12.2% more primary care provider visits and 6.8% fewer specialist visits1
- 13.4% higher cancer screening compliance2
- 12.7% higher annual diabetic screening compliance2,3
- 5.6% higher persistence for follow-up treatments after a heart attack2
- 12.6% higher rates of well-child visits2
“At Advocate Aurora Health, we’re proud of our success in reducing the cost of high-quality, accessible health care and appreciate the opportunity to partner with UnitedHealthcare to further this transformation,” said Rick Klein, chief business development officer, Advocate Aurora Health. “We look forward to continuing to drive affordability and exceptional care while helping more Wisconsin residents live well.”
“NexusACO will offer employers the opportunity to provide enhanced access to exceptional care at a lower cost to their employees,” said Scott Hawig, executive vice president of finance, chief financial and administrative officer and treasurer, Froedtert Health. “This partnership will allow the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network to more directly connect our business community to the best of academic medicine.”
NexusACO puts an emphasis on encouraging employees to use in-network physicians who consistently work towards high quality and cost efficiency to coordinate their care. Plan participants work with a primary care physician (PCP) – a medical resource who will coordinate the member’s health care and help them navigate the health care system.
The PCP serves as the patient’s main point of contact, and will work to proactively engage their patients more often, hoping to ensure at-risk patients receive timely, appropriate health screenings, while helping people manage chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease and arthritis.
“We heard from employers throughout Wisconsin who were looking for quality care at a lower cost, so we designed this competitive product specifically for them and their employees,” said Dustin Hinton, CEO, UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin. “NexusACO offers potential double-digit cost-savings when compared to traditional plans, and employees may also see lower monthly premiums.”
Employers in Wisconsin counties that are outside of this area will be able to offer NexusACO benefit plans utilizing UnitedHealthcare’s Premium Designation Program.
