(BUFFALO) – The cornerstones of the National Affordable Care Act are efforts to contain the Rising Cost of Health Care and enhance the Quality of Care delivered to Americans.  BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York and Kaleida Health are addressing these elements through a Pilot Program for Individuals undergoing Coronary-Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Surgery. 

CABG is a type of Surgery that improves Blood Flow to the Heart.  Surgeons use CABG to treat people who have Severe Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), which is a disease in which a waxy substance called plaque builds up inside the Coronary Arteries and is highly prevalent in Western New York.

The Pilot Program will work to improve the Coordination of Care between Primary-Care Physicians, Cardiothoracic Surgeons and Blue Cross/Blue Shield on behalf of the Patient.  When CABG Procedures are performed at the State-Of-The-Art Gates Vascular Institute, Kaleida Health will identify individuals who fit the criteria starting September 1st. 

Once an Individual Patient is identified as a Candidate for the Pilot Program, all Clinical Parties will participate in both a Pre-Admission and Day-Of-Discharge Coordination Care Conference.  Nurse Liaisons from Kaleida Health and Blue Cross/Blue Shield, the Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Primary-Care Physician, and a Cardiologist will be involved and engaged to improve all aspects of the Coordination of Care and Patient Outcomes.

“Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Kaleida Health share a unique vision in using this Pilot Program to improve our Member’s experience as a Patient and reduce Cardiac Readmissions,” Dr. Raghu Ram, Blue Cross/Blue Shield’s Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, said.  “Allowing Individuals to resume a More Active Lifestyle, Improving Heart Function and lowering the risk of further Heart Disease and Complications Post-Procedure will be the direct result of this initiative.”

Margaret Paroski, Kaleida Health’s Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, added: “Coordination of Care is critical to good patient outcomes.  This Program for Coronary Artery Bypass Patients facilitates active communication among all the Physicians, which in turn will improve outcomes for our Patients and the Quality of Care for those we serve.”