Cropped Photo of doctor holding stethoscope

The Facts

NSQCN IS

  • A program led and managed by physicians on the medical staffs of St. Elizabeth Community Hospital, Mercy Medical Center – Redding and Mercy Medical Center – Mt. Shasta.
  • A network of physicians opting to collaborate with the hospitals to utilize evidence-based, quality initiatives to improve quality and efficiency of care.
  • A network of physicians who will collectively negotiate with health plans and local self-insured employers for improvement in reimbursement, based on its ability to achieve quality benchmarks.

NSQCN IS NOT

  • Capitation.
  • A program led by hospitals.
  • Physician employment.
  • Costly to physicians.
  • An agreement that will put individual physician fees at risk.

Why physicians join NSQCN

  • Clinical integration is a proven method to improve the quality and cost of patient care.
  • The network provides a support system for private practice physicians facing healthcare reform challenges.
  • Independent physicians are able to jointly contract with health plans for commercial patients, with recognition for achievement of quality benchmarks.
  • Physicians receive access to business intelligence information technology.
  • Physicians also receive visibility across the full continuum of care.

Benefits of joining NSQCN

  • Proven method to improve the quality and reduce the cost of health care.
  • Provides a support system for private practice physicians facing health care reform challenges.
  • Enables physicians to engage in joint contracting with fee-for-service payers for commercial patients, with financial incentives based on achievement of quality benchmarks.
  • Access to business intelligence information technology.
  • Data visibility across the full continuum of care.

To participate, physicians must

  • Sign a physician participation agreement.
  • Agree to the quality initiatives selected and defined by physicians.
  • Share quality data with NSQCN via the technology provided by the program.
  • Be accountable for compliance with NSQCN policies and procedures.
  • Comply with NSQCN technology requirements.

NSQCN management

  • Physician-led committees and a physician-dominated board of managers.
  • Organizational development funds provided by the hospitals.

Zero enrollment costs

  • There are no enrollment costs.
  • There are no ongoing participation fees.

Did you know?

  • Membership in the North State Quality Care Network (NSQCN) is non-exclusive and does not limit a physician’s ability to contract with health plans independently or through another clinical integration program, accountable care organization (ACO), independent practice association (IPA), physician organization (PO) or physician hospital organization (PHO).
  • NSQCN will focus on new and innovative payer agreements available only through NSQCN.
  • Each potential payer agreement with NSQCN is carefully reviewed by the physician Board to ensure it presents a real or potential economic benefit to physicians.
  • You can terminate your participation at any time, for any reason, upon a 60 day notice.
  • All quality initiatives and physician participation criteria are developed by NSQCN physicians.
  • Quality performance is measured across your entire patient population, not just that of a single insurance company. You have access to a web-based tool with the ability to compare yourself against local, regional and national quality benchmarks.
  • Any information you share with NSQCN is confidential. It is used to measure performance and identify opportunities for improvement, to assist you in improving your quality scores and for demonstrating the overall performance of NSQCN to the community.
  • Physicians compose a significant majority of the NSQCN Board of Managers.