Media Contact: Barbara Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications; 248.260.8466; barbara@eafocus.com; Todd Ross, Michigan Osteopathic Association; 517.827.0615; tross@doamoa.org

Rochester, Mich. –December 8, 2017 – MedNetOne Health Solutions (MedNetOne), a health care management organization offering infrastructure, clinical and technology services to more than 800 private practice physicians and other independent care providers, has been selected by the Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA) to administer the MOA’s new physician organization, Healthcare Partners of Michigan (HCPM).  The announcement was made by MedNetOne CEO Ewa Matuszewski and MOA Executive Director, Kris Nicholoff.

Healthcare Partners of Michigan, the first physician organization (PO) to be started by a Michigan osteopathic organization, was established by the MOA to serve independent osteopathic primary and specialty care physicians, as well as mid-level providers and behavioral health specialists with an affinity to the osteopathic approach to patient care.  As part of its administrative agreement with the MOA, MedNetOne will provide Healthcare Partners of Michigan members:

  • Infrastructure and technology support, including EHR and telehealth, to develop and sustain high performing, independent practices focused on patient health and wellness
  • In office, multi-disciplinary clinical care teams that follow an advanced primary care approach to treat chronic conditions and teach self-management skills
  • Outcomes data and quality improvement strategies focused on population health
  • Liaison services between physicians and payors, contract negotiations and reimbursement guidance and troubleshooting
  • Assistance in helping HCPM physicians transform their practices into Patient Centered Medical Homes (PCMH).

MedNetOne, long-active in the osteopathic community and a highly regarded advocate of DOs, is a well-respected leader among the state’s POs. A champion of the development and implementation of the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) and other advanced primary care initiatives, MedNetOne physician/provider members are focused on fully integrated, population-based, patient-centric practices that enhance patient outcomes and meet government healthcare reform mandates.

“As healthcare expands its focus beyond patient care to government reporting, data outcomes, electronic records and other non-direct patient responsibilities, it’s increasingly difficult to go it alone as a private practice physician,” Ewa Matuszewski, MedNetOne CEO and co-founder said.   “Yet, the relative autonomy of private practice remains an enviable draw to many physicians, so they persevere as independent providers and hobble together technology plans, staff training and patient wellness programming while pursuing traditional patient-centric care.”

Matuszewski continued that physicians who are unable or unwilling to make the sacrifices required to focus on both patients and administration in private practice may give up their CEO/physician role and sell their practice to a health system, retire early or take on a corporate medical role within health care or the business world.

Initially serving primarily as contracting agencies for health care entities, enlightened POs changed focus in the 90’s as insurers began taking claims processing activities in-house. Today, POs again play a contracting role, yet have developed into in-the-trenches leaders for communicating and implementing broad-based concepts such as the Patient-Centered Medical Home model via the physician’s practice.

“The solid foundation of today’s PO network in Michigan is the result of strong PO leadership, coupled with the vision of key physicians at BCBSM in particular who realized the most impactful way to introduce and guide transformational, outcomes-driven change was best achieved through physician organizations,” Matuszewski said. “MOA members who join Healthcare Partners of Michigan will have a voice of leadership and support in the broader healthcare conversation that is only available to independent physicians through physician organization membership.”

Financial arrangements between the MOA and MedNetOne are not being disclosed. Healthcare Partners of Michigan is an open system requiring no mandated hospital or health system affiliation. Mark Lazar, MedNetOne’s Director of Corporate Affairs, will serve on the Healthcare Partners of Michigan newly formed executive board.  The MOA press release announcing HCPM can be found here.

About the Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA)

The Michigan Osteopathic Association represents more than 7,000 osteopathic physicians, residents, interns and students in Michigan. Since 1898, the MOA has been dedicated to the promotion of quality patient care and to the educational, informational, and legislative needs of its members and partners.  For more information, please visit www.domoa.org.

About MedNetOne Health Solutions

Based in Rochester, Mich., MedNetOne Health Solutions is a leader in advancing the development and implementation of the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) and advanced primary care. Its physician/provider members are focused on fully integrated, population-based, patient-centric practices that enhance patient outcomes and meet government healthcare reform mandates. Learn more here.

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