WARRENDALE, Penn. — Bridges Health Partners (Bridges), a clinically integrated network, and Aetna, a CVS Health company, have entered into a value-based agreement for Aetna’s commercial employer groups in Western Pennsylvania. The agreement is designed to improve clinical outcomes, efficiency and cost of care for Aetna’s commercial employer groups cared for by Bridges providers.

“Working collaboratively, Bridges and Aetna will use insights derived from clinical, claims, and administrative data to promote a healthier workforce through wellness promotion and early intervention. The relationship will optimize our ability to create evidence-based clinical pathways to provide high quality, cost effective care as well as ensure a seamless patient experience across the healthcare continuum,” said Dr. Robert Zimmerman, chief medical officer for Bridges.

Formed in 2017 by affiliates of Butler Health System, Excela Health, St. Clair Hospital, and Washington Health System, Bridges partners with the systems’ independent and employed medical staff to provide an integrated regional network of care consisting of over 1,000 physicians.

“This is a natural extension of Bridges and Aetna’s relationship and builds upon our previous collaboration with Medicare Advantage beneficiaries in this region. Working together, we’ve been successful in achieving and delivering excellent clinical outcomes and value for the communities we serve,” said Dr. Zimmerman.

“Providing consumers with coordinated and personalized health care requires payers and providers to work together,” said Remy Richman, vice president, chief growth officer for the Keystone Market. “By advancing our collaboration with Bridges Health Partners through this new value-based arrangement, we are helping to improve health care outcomes and affordability for Aetna commercial members in communities throughout Western Pennsylvania.”