Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Ohio and 13 other states have become the nation’s first health-insurance plans to offer providers incentives for obtaining integrated-care certification (ICC) from the Joint Commission, Healthcare Dive reports.

“The certification will help Anthem meet its care coordination measure under its Quality-In-Sights hospital incentive program, its performance-based reimbursement program for hospitals,” the news service reported.

So far only one Florida hospital, Parrish Medical Center, has attained integrated-care certification from the Joint Commission. “Anthem hopes its recognition of the standard will prompt hospitals to do so,” Healthcare Dive said.

The decision is part of a broader effort by CMS to reimburse based on quality, not quantity of procedures. Among CMS’s initiatives is a proposed bundled- payment model for heart attacks and bypass surgeries, with a demonstration project to be launched at 98 sites next year.

“The Joint Commission launched the ICC a year ago to recognize providers that excel at communication, information sharing and other behaviors aimed at creating a seamless experience for the patient across multiple healthcare settings,” Healthcare Dive reported.

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