LITTLE ROCK, AR - Governor Mike Beebe announced Thursday that Wal-Mart will contribute $670,000 to underwrite Arkansas' effort to create a more efficient health care payment system.
The Arkansas Payment Improvement Initiative (APII) is a ground breaking effort to create a more patient centered health care system.
Wal-Mart is the first self-insured private employer to join the pilot program that already includes insurance providers Qual Choice, Blue Cross / Blue Shield of Arkansas, Medicaid and Medicare.
As part of the agreement, Wal-Mart says it will fund the development and distribution of information to the public that explains how payments are being restructured. The retail giant will also help underwrite an annual statewide tracking report that will evaluate the effectiveness of the project and also serve on the newly created APII Employer Advisory Council.
The APII is already in the first phase of implementation. It's designed to reward physicians, hospitals, and other providers who give patients high quality care. The long term goal is to build a sustainable system that provides the best possible health care of Arkansans through team based approaches and cost containment.
