As Physicians Alliance of Connecticut (PACT), PACT-Hartford HealthCare went live in 2013, after five physician groups came together in search of a common goal: to preserve and protect private medical practice in southern Connecticut. In 2020, PACT partnered with Hartford HealthCare and became PACT-Hartford HealthCare, an independent medical practice operating under the Hartford HealthCare umbrella.
A Different Kind of Medical Practice Management
Back then, we saw that as rising costs and complexity drove more and more physicians away from independent private practices and into employer-physician relationships with large medical systems, something was being lost. Autonomy—and frequently, job satisfaction—were being replaced by bureaucracy and a corporate mindset.
We set out to create a third option—one that provides centralized administrative services to allow medical groups to retain independent control of their businesses in a physician-owned and physician-managed multi-specialty group. PACT-Hartford HealthCare takes care of business operations so physicians and their offices can focus on providing quality medical care.
A wide range of member advantages
The benefits to our member divisions are extensive. PACT-Hartford HealthCare stays ahead of industry changes and anticipates new requirements and opportunities, avoiding regulatory complications and eliminating the time, cost and frustration of running business operations. Instead, PACT-Hartford HealthCare brings stability to private medical practices, helping member physicians to maintain or increase business levels in the months and years ahead.
PACT-Hartford HealthCare medical practice management services
PACT MSO, a separate and independent medical practice management services organization, provides all PACT-Hartford HealthCare members with key operational services including payroll, human resources, provider credentialing, bookkeeping, accounting, legal support, coding and compliance reviews, revenue cycle management, budgeting assistance, feasibility studies and training opportunities.
More member benefits
Our members also benefit from implementation and training on the Epic electronic health records system, discounted group rates on malpractice insurance, and increased purchasing power from economies of scale. In addition, faced with dwindling reimbursement for fee-for-service, our size and emphasis on information technology allows PACT-Hartford HealthCare members to participate in value-based agreements and shared-savings programs, thereby protecting their clinical income as alternative payment models become established. Members also benefit from diverse income streams such as shared ancillary service revenue and profits from optional equity investment in PACT MSO.
An equal voice
As a physician-owned and managed business, PACT-Hartford HealthCare not only allows physicians to run their own practices, it gives them a say in how PACT-Hartford HealthCare is run. Every member has an equal voice, and each division is represented on the PACT-Hartford HealthCare board of directors.
Looking ahead: our growth plans
In July 2020, after seven years of planning and refining our processes, PACT celebrated a new milestone: a partnership with Hartford HealthCare. Under the agreement, the renamed PACT-Hartford HealthCare remains an independent medical practice operating under the Hartford HealthCare umbrella. PACT-Hartford HealthCare is still managed by its independent managed service organization, PACT MSO. The partnership enables PACT-Hartford HealthCare to expand its membership levels to increase economies of scale, ensure the organization’s longevity, and solidify its already strong business model. Our goal is controlled and limited growth while remaining nimble enough to maintain an exceptional level of service to our members and anticipate industry changes and opportunities.
Our future plans call for additional ancillary services, with continued expansion of our primary care base and additional specialist divisions. Our new members will enjoy what current PACT-Hartford HealthCare members now take for granted: the independence of a private practice with the advantages and support of a large, state-wide medical group.
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