Southwest Health, Upland Hills Health join QualityPath for CTs and MRIs

MADISON, Wis. (March 1, 2017) – Southwest Health, Platteville, Wis., and Upland Hills Health, Dodgeville, Wis., have met the high quality standards required to offer CT and MRI scans through theQualityPath® program, effective today.

QualityPath was developed by The Alliance, a cooperative of 240 employers with self-funded health benefit plans for employees and family members.

“Hospitals and clinics that offer CTs and MRIs through QualityPath make a significant commitment to providing high-quality CTs and MRIs,” The Alliance President and CEO Cheryl DeMars said. “They deliver the kind of high-value care that will help transform the health care marketplace by focusing on value.

Leaders of the two western Wisconsin facilities shared their motivations for joiningQualityPath.

 “We at Southwest Health are dedicated to always providing patient care of the highest possible quality,” said JoAnn Geissbuhler, Director of Radiology. “That’s why we’re excited about QualityPath. Our participation allows us to continue to optimize CT and MRI care for our patients right here in southwest Wisconsin. And that not only eliminates the hassles of traveling but also gives doctors and their patients alike the peace of mind of knowing tests will be done right, the first time, every time.”

“Upland Hills Health is committed to providing the best and safest diagnostic imaging,” said Lynnette Collins, Director of Imaging Services. “This remarkable technology allows us to use a decreased amount of radiation without compromising image quality. Our recent upgrades also maximize patient comfort. ”

The Alliance launched the QualityPath program in 2015 with doctor-and-hospital designations for knee replacements, total hip replacements and heart bypass surgeries. QualityPath expanded to include CT and MRI scans on Jan. 1, 2017.

QualityPath for CTs and MRIs offers these benefits:

• Eliminating out-of-pocket costs or deductibles for patients on a traditional health plan when using QualityPath (savings vary for patients with a plan that has a health savings account).
• Identifying high-quality care. This care can make a significant difference in patients’ lives.  For example, overuse of CT scans exposes people to unnecessary radiation; any exposure to radiation increases your lifetime risk of cancer.
• Helping patients avoid wild variations in the price of CT and MRI scans. Within The Alliance network, the lowest price for an MRI of a joint in the lower leg is $440 while the highest is $3,130, based on cost estimates obtained in April 2016.

• Providing a warranty to protect patients from the cost of repeating the same scan due to quality issues.

Employers who are members of The Alliance can enroll in QualityPath, which is then offered to employees and family members enrolled in health plans that use The Alliance network.

A list of all participating doctors, hospitals and clinics is available on The Alliance website (www.the-alliance.org).