Arkansas Blue Cross Awards $5.6 Million To Primary Care Innovators

Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield is financially rewarding primary care clinics participating in the Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) program – an initiative of the federal Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation – and the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) program for their creative efforts to improve clinical effectiveness.

The CPC+ and PCMH programs provide financial resources to encourage primary care clinics to test ideas that advance patient care, improve outcomes and reduce low-value care.

For meeting performance goals, 330 participating CPC+ and PCMH clinics, representing 1,529 healthcare providers, will share in more than $5.6 million being awarded by Arkansas Blue Cross. Each clinic met or exceeded its 2020 CPC+ and PCMH quality measure targets by focusing on:

• Meeting the patient’s needs during a pandemic,
• Reducing avoidable hospital admissions and readmissions
• Quality of care
• Total cost of care

“We are encouraged to see CPC+ and PCMH continuing to have such a positive influence on our state’s healthcare delivery system and the health of Arkansas Blue Cross members,” said Alicia Berkemeyer, executive vice president and chief health management officer for Arkansas Blue Cross. “Primary care is the foundation of our system, and we are pleased to see collaborative and provider-led innovation strengthening it throughout Arkansas.”

Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) is a national advanced primary care medical home model that aims to strengthen primary care through regionally based multi-payer payment reform. The CPC+ program ends on December 31, 2021.

The Patient-Centered Medical Home program is a model to deliver and organize healthcare that helps to improve the patient’s experience of care, improve the health of populations, and reduce or control the costs of healthcare. The PCMH model allows the primary care provider and the patient to be the center of the healthcare system, to know what is going on with their care and help the patient be in control of their health.

Both CPC+ and PCMH emphasize the following comprehensive primary care focuses:

• Access and continuity
• Care management
• Comprehensiveness and coordination
• Patient and caregiver engagement
• Planned care and population health

CPC+ and PCMH provide practices with a robust learning system, as well as actionable data feedback to guide their decision-making. The care delivery redesign ensures practices have the infrastructure to deliver better care, resulting in a healthier patient population.

The next phase in the primary care transformation has already begun, in the form of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation’s Primary Care First program (which is the successor of CPC+).

Primary Care First is offered in 26 regions, including Arkansas, and is made up of two cohorts of participating practices. Cohort 1 began in January 2021, and Cohort 2 will start in January 2022.

Cohort 1 currently includes 822 primary care practices (16 of which are in Arkansas) and 14 payer partners, including Arkansas Blue Cross.

Following are the Arkansas CPC+ clinics receiving performance incentive awards from Arkansas Blue Cross:

• Arkadelphia Medical Clinic (Arkadelphia)
• Bray Family Medicine (Arkadelphia)
• Bradley Bibb, M.D., PLLC (Ash Flat)
• Batesville Family Care (Batesville)
• WRMC Primary Care Clinic (Batesville)
• Beebe Family Clinic (Beebe)
• Unity Health – McAfee Medical Clinic (Beebe)
• Benton Family Clinic (Benton)
• Main Street Medical Clinic (Benton)
• Saline Clinics, LLC (Benton)
• Saline Med-Peds Group, Inc. (Benton)
• Northwest Benton County Physician Services, LLC (Bentonville)
• The Physicians Clinic of Berryville – NARMC (Berryville)
• Baptist Health Family Clinic – Bryant (Bryant)
• Baptist Health Family Clinic – Cabot (Cabot)
• Cabot Medical Care (Cabot)
• Ouachita Valley Family Clinic (Camden)
• Internal Medicine Diagnostics (Cherokee Village)
• Unity Health – Red River Family Medicine (Clinton)
• Brooks Lawrence, M.D., PA (Conway)
• Freeman Family Medicine (Conway)
• Family Clinic of Ashley County, PA (Crossett)
• Lofton Family Clinic, M.D., PA (De Queen)
• Randy D. Walker, M.D., PLLC (De Queen)
• SAMA Healthcare Services, PA (El Dorado)
• Eureka Family Medical Center (Eureka Springs)
• Family Clinic Farmington – Washington Regional (Farmington)
• Family Clinic Fayetteville – Washington Regional (Fayetteville)
• Internal Medicine Associates – Washington Regional (Fayetteville)
• Medical Associates of Northwest Arkansas (Fayetteville)
• Senior Health Clinic – Washington Regional (Fayetteville)
• UAMS Family Medical Center – Fayetteville (Fayetteville)
• Conner George Luther III, M.D. (Forrest City)
• Internal Medicine of Forrest City (Forrest City)
• Kumars Medical Clinic, PA (Forrest City)
• Baptist Health Services (Fort Smith)
• UAMS Family Medical Center – Fort Smith (Fort Smith)
• Glenwood Family Medicine (Glenwood)
• Family First Primary Care, PA (Greenbrier)
• Greenbrier Family Clinic (Greenbrier)
• Crossroads Medical Clinic (Harrison)
• Family Doctors Clinic – North Arkansas Regional Medical Center (Harrison)
• Family Medicine Group – North Arkansas Regional Medical Center (Harrison)
• Harrison Family Practice Clinic – Washington Regional (Harrison)
• Internal Medicine Clinic – North Arkansas Regional Medical Center (Harrison)
• Leslie Clinic, PA (Harrison)
• Medicine Group – North Arkansas Regional Medical Center (Harrison)
• Ozark Family Practice – Washington Regional (Harrison)
• Washington Regional Primary Care – Main Street (Harrison)
• Bernards First Care – Highland (Highland)
• CHI St. Vincent Clinic Hot Springs Communities (Hot Springs)
• Family Medicine Clinic, PA (Hot Springs)
• Fountain Lake Family Medicine (Hot Springs)
• Hamilton West Family Medicine (Hot Springs)
• West Gate Family Medicine (Hot Springs)
• Jacksonville Medical Care (Jacksonville)
• AHEC Family Practice (Jonesboro)
• First Care (Jonesboro)
• First Care Parker Road (Jonesboro)
• NEA Baptist Clinic (Jonesboro)
• Bernards Clinics Inc. (Jonesboro)
• Bernards Medical Senior Health Clinic (Jonesboro)
• West Washington County Clinic – Washington Regional (Lincoln)
• Arkansas Family Care Network (Little Rock)
• Arkansas Primary Care Clinic (Little Rock)
• Autumn Road Family Practice, PA (Little Rock)
• Baptist Health Family Clinic – Pleasant Valley (Little Rock)
• Baptist Health Family Clinic – Hillcrest (Little Rock)
• Baptist Health Family Clinic – Otter Creek (Little Rock)
• Baptist Health Family Clinic – West (Little Rock)
• CHI St. Vincent Little Rock Diagnostic Clinic (Little Rock)
• Medical College Physicians Group (Little Rock)
• Nayles Medical Clinic (Little Rock)
• Vincent Physician Clinics, LLC (Little Rock)
• Baptist Health Family Clinic – Malvern (Malvern)
• Higginbotham Family Clinic (Malvern)
• Pinnacle Physicians Group (Malvern)
• Baptist Health Family Clinic – Maumelle (Maumelle)
• Jeffrey J. Carfagno, M.D. (Maumelle)
• Baxter Regional Family Clinic (Mountain Home)
• North Central Arkansas Medical Associates, PA (Mountain Home)
• Regional Family Medicine (Mountain Home)
• Andy’s Family Practice Clinic (Mountain View)
• James E. Zini, D.O., PA (Mountain View)
• Howard Memorial Hospital Medical Clinics (Nashville)
• Unity Health Physician Group (Newport)
• Baptist Health Family Clinic – Baptist Health Drive (North Little Rock)
• Baptist Health Family Clinic – Lakewood (North Little Rock)
• North Little Rock Family Practice (North Little Rock)
• North Little Rock Primary Care & Diagnostic Clinic (North Little Rock)
• North Hills Family Medical Center (North Little Rock)
• Family Practice Clinic of Paragould (Paragould)
• Baptist Health Family Clinic – Perryville (Perryville)
• Pocahontas Medical Clinic, PA (Pocahontas)
• Collom and Carney Clinic (Prescott)
• Mary’s Physician Services, LLC (Russellville)
• Scribner Family Practice Clinic, LLC (Salem)
• Family Practice Associates (Searcy)
• Prime Care Medical Clinic (Searcy)
• Searcy Medical Center (Searcy)
• Unity Health – Westside Family Medical Clinic (Searcy)
• The Winston Clinic, PA (Sheridan)
• Sherwood Family Medical Center (Sherwood)
• Community Physicians Group (Siloam Springs)
• Northwest Physicians, LLC (Springdale)
• Shiloh Clinic – Washington Regional (Springdale)
• UAMS Family Medical Center – Springdale (Springdale)
• Washington Regional East Springdale Family Clinic (Springdale)
• Southwest Family Practice Residency and Clinic (Texarkana)
• Sophia Meyer Family Medicine (Van Buren)
• Alliance Senior Health, PLLC (West Memphis)
• Pierce Trent Patterson, M.D. (West Memphis)
• Baptist Health Family Clinic – White Hall (White Hall)
• Doug Coleman, M.D., PA (White Hall)
• Mark Anthony G. Ramiro, M.D. (White Hall)

Following are the Arkansas PCMH clinics receiving performance incentive awards from Arkansas Blue Cross:

• Cornerstone Medical Group, PLLC (Alma)
• Healthy Connections Inc. (Arkadelphia)
• Robert A. Dorman, M.D., PA (Arkadelphia)
• King Medical Clinic (Ashdown)
• Falwell Family Medicine, PA (Batesville)
• The Children’s Clinic (Batesville)
• The Diagnostic Clinic at WRMC (Batesville)
• UAMS Family Medical Center (Batesville)
• Access Medical Clinic Bay (Bay)
• Central Arkansas Pediatric Clinic, Inc. (Benton)
• Family Practice Associates (Benton)
• Living Tree Pediatrics, PLLC (Bentonville)
• Baptist Health Family Clinic – Bismarck (Bismarck)
• Access Medical Clinic (Black Rock)
• Family Medicine Associates of Blytheville, PA (Blytheville)
• Great River Pediatric Clinic (Blytheville)
• Great River Physician Services (Blytheville)
• Bono Family Medical Clinic and Therapy Services (Bono)
• Bradley Bibb, M.D., PLLC (Bono)
• Unity Health – Bradford Medical Clinic (Bradford)
• Unity Health – Medical Clinic of Cabot (Cabot)
• Unity Health – North Cabot Family Medicine (Cabot)
• Baptist Health Family Clinic – Caddo Valley (Caddo Valley)
• Cave City Medical Clinic (Cave City)
• Schmitz Family Practice & Rural Health, PLLC (Charleston)
• Midway Medical Clinic (Cherokee Village)
• Mid-Delta Health Systems, Inc. (Clarendon)
• Clarksville Family Medical Center (Clarksville)
• Clarksville Medical Group, PA (Clarksville)
• Family Practice Associates of Clarksville (Clarksville)
• Clinton Medical Clinic (Clinton)
• Ozark Medical & Pediatric Clinic (Clinton)
• Unity Health – Red River Family Medicine (Clinton)
• Arkansas Pediatrics of Conway (Conway)
• Banister Lieblong Clinic (Conway)
• Baptist Health Family Clinic Conway West (Conway)
• Baptist Health Pediatric Clinic Conway (Conway)
• Central Arkansas Pediatrics, PA (Conway)
• Conway Children’s Clinic (Conway)
• Conway Medical Group (Conway)
• Conway Regional Medical Clinic – Prince Street (Conway)
• Hilman Family Clinic, PA (Conway)
• TLC Pediatrics, PLLC (Conway)
• 1st Choice Healthcare (Corning)
• Ashley Health Services (Crossett)
• Barry V. Thompson, M.D., PA (Crossett)
• Chambers Memorial Clinic (Danville)
• Access Medical Clinic Dardanelle (Dardanelle)
• The Kirkland Family Medical Center, PA (Dardanelle)
• Healthy Connections Inc. De Queen Clinic (De Queen)
• Tracy Family Practice Clinic (De Witt)
• Decatur Medi-Clinic (Decatur)
• Drasco Medical Clinic (Drasco)
• Delta Memorial Hospital (Dumas)
• Depaul Health Center of Dumas (Dumas)
• Earle Family Medical Clinic (Earle)
• Carlton Newsome, M.D. (El Dorado)
• Albert Obiozo Pediatrics, Inc. (El Dorado)
• Gold Cross Urgent Care, LLC (El Dorado)
• Robin P. Ray, M.D. (El Dorado)
• Community Clinic Fayetteville Medical (Fayetteville)
• Hello Wellness, PLC (Fayetteville)
• Medical Associates of Northwest Arkansas (Fayetteville)
• Brandy Davis, M.D., PA (Forrest City)
• East Arkansas Children’s Clinic (Forrest City)
• T. Meredith M.D., PA (Forrest City)
• Baptist Health Services (Fort Smith)
• James L. Cheshier, M.D., PA (Fort Smith)
• John C. Whitaker, M.D. (Fort Smith)
• Keystone Family Clinic (Fort Smith)
• Mercy Clinic Fort Smith Communities (Fort Smith)
• Pediatric Partners, PA (Fort Smith)
• Elizabeth Health Center (Gould)
• Greenbrier Family Medicine (Greenbrier)
• Baptist Health Family Clinic – Greers Ferry (Greers Ferry)
• Baptist Health Family Clinic – Gurdon (Gurdon)
• Hamburg Health Clinic (Hamburg)
• Harrisburg Family Medical Clinic (Harrisburg)
• Two Sisters Family Medical (Harrisburg)
• Cornerstone Medical Clinic (Harrison)
• Hometown Doc, PA (Harrison)
• Mediquick – North Arkansas Regional Medical Center (Harrison)
• Western Yell County Medical Clinic (Havana)
• Baptist Health Heber Springs Campus Clinic (Heber Springs)
• Baptist Health Family Clinic – Heber Springs (Heber Springs)
• Bivins Family Medicine (Heber Springs)
• Sugarloaf Medical Clinic (Heber Springs)
• Unity Health – Medical Clinic Heber Springs (Heber Springs)
• Cypert Ridge Family Practice Clinic (Helena)
• Pillow Clinic, PLLC (Helena)
• UAMS Family Medical Center (Helena)
• Bernards Firstcare – Hilltop (Hilltop)
• CHI St. Vincent Primary Care (Hot Springs)
• Hamilton West Family Medicine (Hot Springs)
• Harmony Park Family Medical, PLLC (Hot Springs)
• Healthy Connections Inc. Hot Springs Central Clinic (Hot Springs)
• Healthy Connections Inc. Hot Springs (Hot Springs)
• Hot Springs Pediatric Clinic, PA (Hot Springs)
• Lake Hamilton Family Medicine (Hot Springs)
• Lakeside Family Medicine (Hot Springs)
• West Gate Family Medicine (Hot Springs)
• Daugherty & Daugherty Medical Clinic (Jacksonville)
• Newton County Family Practice (Jasper)
• Apache Drive Children’s Clinic (Jonesboro)
• Children’s Clinic (Jonesboro)
• Family Physicians of Jonesboro, PLLC (Jonesboro)
• First Care Acute Care Center (Jonesboro)
• Kion Pediatrics (Jonesboro)
• NEA Baptist Clinic (Jonesboro)
• Lake Village Clinic (Lake Village)
• Buffalo Island Medical Clinic Leachville (Leachville)
• Claude Parrish Community Health (Lead Hill)
• ACH Physicians Billing Group (Little Rock)
• All For Kids Pediatric Clinic, PA (Little Rock)
• Arkansas Children’s Medical Group, PLLC (Little Rock)
• Arkansas Family Care Network (Little Rock)
• Arkansas Pediatric Clinic, PLLC (Little Rock)
• Benny J. Green, M.D., PA (Little Rock)
• Carter Family Medicine Clinic, PLLC (Little Rock)
• CHI St. Vincent Little Rock Diagnostic Clinic (Little Rock)
• Little Rock Children’s Clinic (Little Rock)
• Little Rock Pediatric Clinic (Little Rock)
• Medical College Physicians Group (Little Rock)
• Primary Care of Arkansas – Chrystal Johnson, M.D. (Little Rock)
• Mark F. Olsen, M.D. (Lowell)
• Amy Wilson Cross, MD (Magnolia)
• UAMS Family Medical Center (Magnolia)
• Malvern Family Medical Clinic (Malvern)
• Malvern School Based Health Center (Malvern)
• Wagner Medical Clinic (Manila)
• Lee County Cooperative Clinic (Marianna)
• Mitchell Family Medicine, LLC (Marion)
• Bradley Bibb, M.D., PLLC (Marked Tree)
• Boston Mountain Rural Health Center (Marshall)
• Marshall Family Practice (Marshall)
• Mayflower Family Medicine (Mayflower)
• McGehee Family Clinic (McGehee)
• Melbourne Medical Clinic (Melbourne)
• First Care Family Medicine Mena (Mena)
• Healthy Connections Inc. (Mena)
• Mountain View Clinic, Inc. (Mena)
• Buffalo Island Family Medical Clinic Monette (Monette)
• Connelley Family Medical, PLLC (Monticello)
• Monticello Medical Clinic (Monticello)
• Morrilton Medical Clinic (Morrilton)
• CHI St. Vincent Morrilton (Morrilton)
• Lincoln Paden Medical Group (Mountain Home)
• Baxter Regional Medical Center Hometown Clinic (Mountain View)
• Stone County Family Medicine Clinic (Mountain View)
• Stone County Primary Care Clinic (Mountain View)
• Ferguson Health Care, Inc. (Nashville)
• Newport Diagnostic Medical Clinic (Newport)
• Baptist Health Comprehensive Care Clinic (North Little Rock)
• Scenic 7 Medical Clinic (Ola)
• Bernards First Care – Osceola (Osceola)
• Willis Clinic (Osceola)
• 1st Choice Healthcare, Inc. (Paragould)
• Burchfield Family Medicine, PLLC (Paragould)
• Child & Adolescent Medical Clinic (Paragould)
• Paragould Doctors Clinic (Paragould)
• Paragould Pediatrics (Paragould)
• Family Health Associates of Southeast Arkansas (Pine Bluff)
• Family Health Associates of Southeast Arkansas (Pine Bluff)
• First US Clinic, PA (Pine Bluff)
• Larisa Kachowski Family Medicine, PLLC (Pine Bluff)
• UAMS Family Medical Center (Pine Bluff)
• Plainview Medical Clinic (Plainview)
• Pleasant Plains Medical Clinic (Pleasant Plains)
• 1st Choice Healthcare (Pocahontas)
• Mainline Health Systems, Inc. (Portland)
• Conway Regional Medical Clinic – Pottsville (Pottsville)
• Jennifer Bingham, M.D., PLLC (Prairie Grove)
• Prescott Family Clinic, PA (Prescott)
• Baptist Health Family Clinic Prescott (Prescott)
• River Valley Primary Care Services, Inc. (Ratcliff)
• Community Clinic Rogers Medical (Rogers)
• Harvey Pediatrics (Rogers)
• Mercy Health Northwest Arkansas Communities (Rogers)
• Ozark Pediatrics (Rogers)
• Rogers Family & Occupational Medicine Clinic (Rogers)
• Conway Regional Medical Clinic – Russellville (Russellville)
• Helping Hands Medical Center, LLC (Russellville)
• Monfee Medical Clinic, PA (Russellville)
• Russellville Pediatric & Adolescent Clinic, PA (Russellville)
• Mary’s Physician Services, LLC (Russellville)
• Access Medical Clinic Arkansas, LLC (Salem)
• Benjaman T. Wilkins, M.D., Inc. (Searcy)
• One Life Wellness & Primary Care, Inc. (Searcy)
• Prime Care Medical Clinic (Searcy)
• Searcy Medical Center (Searcy)
• The Pediatric Clinic (Sherwood)
• Sherwood Family Medical Center (Sherwood)
• Community Clinic Siloam Springs Medical (Siloam Springs)
• Community Physicians Group (Siloam Springs)
• Community Clinic Springdale Medical Family Practice (Springdale)
• Community Clinic Springdale Medical (Springdale)
• Northwest Physicians, LLC (Springdale)
• Averitt Pediatrics, PLLC (Springdale)
• Washington Regional Family Clinic Springdale (Springdale)
• Strawberry Medical Clinic (Strawberry)
• Baptist Health Stuttgart Medical Clinic (Stuttgart)
• Collom & Carney Clinic (Texarkana)
• Bernards First Care – Trumann (Trumann)
• Hamby & Hamby Family Wellness Clinic, PLLC (Van Buren)
• Pointer Trail Family Clinic (Van Buren)
• Conway Regional Medical Clinic – Vilonia (Vilonia)
• 1st Choice Healthcare (Walnut Ridge)
• Lawrence County Family Clinic (Walnut Ridge)
• Bradley County Medical Center Rural Health Clinic (Warren)
• Marsh George Clinic (Warren)
• East Arkansas Family Health Center (West Memphis)
• Pediatric Associates of West Memphis, PLC (West Memphis)
• Family Health Associates of Southeast Arkansas (White Hall)
• Family Medicine of White Hall, PA (White Hall)
• Tim Wilkin D.O., PA (White Hall)
• Wynne Physicians Clinic, LLC (Wynne)
• Baxter Regional Ahrens Clinic (Yellville)