Humana’s health plan soon will reimburse hospitals based on quality improvement and performance metrics, the company recently announced.

The Hospital Incentive Program became effective Jan. 1, 2018, compensating hospitals based on patient experience, patient safety, and patient outcomes.

The insurer also will use additional measures, including healthcare-associated infection rates, care coordination, palliative care, and more to assess performance and set reimbursement rates.

The new plan was endorsed by The Joint Commission’s Brian Enochs, JD, executive vice president for business development and marketing.

“By incorporating Integrated Care Certification and hospital-based Palliative Care Coordination Certification into its quality metrics, Humana has made a significant commitment to coordination of patient care through its Hospital Incentive Program,” Enochs said in a statement accompanying the plan’s announcement.

“These key Joint Commission certifications require that participating hospitals engage patients more seamlessly across the entire continuum of care, and we’re pleased to work with Humana to create additional value for the hospitals that achieve them.”

Humana says the plan will emphasize these elements for acute care hospital:

• “More personal time with health professionals and personalized care that is tailored to each person’s unique health situation;
• Access to proactive health screenings and programs that are focused on preventing illness;
• Improved care for people living with chronic conditions with a focus on avoiding health complications;
• Leveraging technologies, such as data analytics, that connect physicians and help them work as a team to coordinate care around the patient; and
• Reimbursement to physicians linked to the health outcomes of their patients rather than solely on the quantity of services they provide.”