DALLAS, Texas – Baylor Scott & White Health, through its Scott and White Health Plan, is now offering an integrated direct primary care health plan product for North Texas employers and their employees.

The innovative product is the first of its kind in the North Texas market and unbundles primary care services from traditional fee-for-service healthcare while integrating comprehensive coverage for hospitals, specialists, and ancillary services.

U.S. employers who have used a direct primary care model have seen a significant reduction in unnecessary emergency and urgent care visits, ultimately leading to decreased healthcare costs, while providing their employees with a better experience managing their total health needs.

"The rapid transformation of healthcare is helping drive significant health plan innovations," said Jeff Ingrum, president and CEO of Scott and White Health Plan. "Our direct primary care offering will help make the cost of healthcare more predictable and transparent for employers. By strengthening the link between the individual and their primary care provider and leveraging the strength of our virtual care platform, we expect to deliver better health outcomes and higher satisfaction with their care," said Ingrum.

Direct primary care is a custom provider network based on employer needs and health plan design. Employers contribute toward employee monthly membership fees that allow their employees to select a primary care provider from those participating in this program. Members in direct primary care are charged a monthly membership fee that covers everything from office visits to basic lab tests, including comprehensive digital and virtual services.

"For employers, having the direct primary care model integrated with their total benefit plan provides unparalleled access to primary care while also delivering meaningful benefit plan savings," said Trent Hadley, CPA, vice president and chief financial officer of Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance, Baylor Scott & White Health's accountable care organization (ACO). "Integrating direct primary care with an employer benefit offering aligns incentives across the spectrum to address increasing healthcare costs for both the employer and their employees."

Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance is comprised of more than 5,000 primary and specialty care providers, 52 hospitals, more than 95 laboratory, imaging and post-acute care facilities and other healthcare providers all agreeing to be jointly accountable for improving quality of care, enhancing the member experience and reducing the cost of healthcare.

While health insurance is needed to cover hospitalizations and other services, the model is especially well suited for employees with high-deductible plans who might be paying out of pocket for primary care services that are not considered preventive. Direct primary care works particularly well for patients with complex medical conditions who need careful monitoring and help coordinating multiple specialists.

The model is being implemented in collaboration with Accresa, a Dallas-based healthcare technology company that specializes in payments and administration solutions for the growing direct primary care market. The Accresa platform connects employers, employees, the insurance carrier, and healthcare providers within the framework of an employer-sponsored plan, providing full transparency into pricing and services while delivering the administrative interface and payments mechanisms required by employers to build and manage a direct primary care benefit for employees.

Baylor Scott & White's direct primary care will feature several benefits including:

• Primary care office visits
• Personalized, patient-centered care coordination
• eVisits and video visits
• Basic immunizations and an annual physical exam
• Many common lab tests

For more information about Scott & White Health Plan's Direct Primary Care product, employers may contact Scott and White Health Plan: swhp.org/BSWSolutions.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Julie Smith
Julie.Smith@BSWHealth.org
940-765-7560

About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White promotes the health and well-being of every individual, family and community it serves. It is committed to making quality care more accessible, convenient and affordable through its integrated delivery network, which includes the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and its leading digital health platform – MyBSWHealth. Through 51 hospitals and more than 1,200 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White today serves more than three million Texans. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com