Spira Care integrates advanced primary care and health coverage to drive value
Over the last few years big names have taken a shot at primary care but are now closing retail clinics across the country. Why? Primary care isn’t as simple as it may seem. But when Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) announced in 2018 that it would offer health plans that give members exclusive access to Spira Care Centers, we piqued the interest of business partners, customers, members, and competitors. After seven years and nine Spira Care openings, we are seeing the benefit of integrating advanced primary care and health coverage to drive value.
When a member chooses a Blue KC health plan with Spira Care they have access to a simple and personalized healthcare experience. At Spira Care Centers, patients of all ages have access to advanced primary care services, including routine preventive care, sick care, injury treatment, chronic medical condition management, behavioral health consultations, lab draws, digital X-rays, and more.
Members can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with choosing Spira Care, the support of a Care Team, and assistance with services outside the Care Center and in a member’s plan network.
Spira Care is making an impact
Cost
- We’ve seen an 8.8%* decrease in the total cost of care for Blue KC members using Spira Care Centers compared to Blue KC members using medical homes** in the BlueSelect Plus network.
- For Blue KC plans without a health savings account (HSA), Spira Care services come at no additional cost, including routine preventive healthcare visits, sick care, disease management, follow-ups, labs, x-rays, behavioral health support, etc. For HSA plans, members pay an affordable charge of $60 for nonroutine preventive healthcare visits with a Spira Care physician or advanced practice provider. Routine preventive healthcare services like annual physicals are at no additional cost.
- We’ve seen a 12%* decrease in pharmacy spend with Spira Care patients versus the BlueSelect Plus comparison population. Spira Care recently added a Comprehensive Medical Management program and an ambulatory care pharmacist to the Care Team. The ambulatory care pharmacist supports Spira Care providers to help ensure medications are optimized to help patients feel their best.
Access
- Blue KC offers a variety of group and individual and family plans that give members exclusive access to Spira Care Centers for their advanced primary care needs.
- Spira Care Centers offer primary care services for patients of all ages including newborns, infants, children, adolescents, and adults.
- Spira Care Centers offer appointment availability including in-person, virtual, weekend, and extended hours at some locations.
- Spira Care Centers often have same-day or next-day access for sick care needs.
- New patients average 1.4 days between the scheduled date and appointment date for nonroutine preventive healthcare visits and 8.7 days for routine preventive healthcare visits. 96% of new patients calling for a visit other than a routine preventive healthcare visit are seen within seven days. This is compared to the average wait time in family medicine of 20.6 days according to a new survey from Merritt Hawkins and AMN Healthcare.
- We’ve seen a 44% increase in primary care provider visits and a 14% increase in the number of Spira Care patients working with a behavioral health clinician.
Member experience
- Spira Care achieved a 95.5%*** Customer Effort Score, meaning over 95% of responses to the statement “Spira Care is easy to work with” were an 8, 9 or 10 out of 10.
- Patient responses averaged a 9.6 out of 10 when asked “How likely are you to recommend your medical provider to family or friends?” and “How would you rate the quality of the healthcare you receive at Spira Care?”.
Introduce clients to the benefits of Spira Care
Spira Care Centers utilize an innovative advanced primary care model which simplifies patient experience, reduces healthcare costs, and puts the “care” back in healthcare. With a personalized and whole-person approach, Spira Care keeps members engaged with their health, which in turn improves health outcomes and bottom lines.
With your partnership, we have an opportunity to move clients into plans with Spira Care, and with education and awareness, we can drive members to use Spira Care for their primary care needs. Much of our success is built on the foundation of integrated care and coverage, simplified member experiences, and doctor-led Care Teams.
Learn more by taking a virtual tour and meeting the Spira Care teams. We recently welcomed Matthew Buss, MD, to Spira Care Overland Park. Dr. Buss has practiced medicine in the Kansas City area for more than 25 years and is looking forward to partnering with patients to achieve their health goals.
To discuss plan options with Spira Care, contact your Blue KC sales representative.
*Data sources for rolling 12 months ending November 30, 2023.
**Medical home is an approach to providing comprehensive primary care that facilitates partnerships between patients, clinicians, medical staff, and families. It extends beyond the clinical practice and includes specialty care, educational services, family support, and more. American Academy of Pediatrics
***Utilization CES based on calendar year 2023 results.
