RIPA was founded in 1978 as the IPA entity required in the original submission for a low-interest loan from the federal government to form the first Rochester Health Maintenance Organization, Preferred Care. RIPA continued in that role until 1999 when it signed a five-year contract with BlueCross BlueShield of the Rochester Area to supply medical services to Blue Choice members. Blue Choice was established as an HMO in 1984. Under NYS law at the time, an IPA such as RIPA could only contract with one HMO. RIPA developed their own administrative services in 1995 to become more independent in their dealings with the HMO. That year, the Board of Directors established certain guidelines that are still in effect to this day.
RIPA's key stakeholders are:- patients
- physicians
- HMO/insurers
- business community
The stakeholders' interests and expectations are:- quality, price, fairness, service, access, no hassle
- equitable fees, good working environment, good communications, good medical management, tools to manage patient care, fairness
- quality product, access, competitive price, participation in new ideas and methods, market response, willingness to change, enthusiastic collaboration
- quality, affordable healthcare, value, access, communication, wellness
RIPA's core values are:The most important things for which RIPA stands are:- community-wide panel of providers
- commitment to continuous improvement
- honesty
- integrity
- fairness
- respect
RIPA's core purposes are:The most important things that RIPA wants to achieve are:- personalized high quality medical care
- an organization that effectively represents the interests of the practitioner
- serve as a support function for the option of independent practice
- assume a leadership role for the physician community
- achieve an equitable fee structure and provider compensentation
- initiate new innovative methods of delivery of health care as dictated by market forces
- promote the highest standards of medical professionalism
RIPA's Board specified key goals are:- align financial incentives with desired physician behavior
- develop a program that supports the concept of private practice
- create a successful relationship with Blue Choice
- achieve financial objectives
- develop a communications plan that is honest, respectful, timely and effective
- gain the respect and trust of the practitioner community
- stay competitive with other physician organizations regarding value added
RIPA Board's expectations of the Executive Director include:
- effective negotiations on behalf of the panel
- strategic planning and implementation
- effective communication with stakeholders
- maximize return of Value of Care Pool
- manage staff effectively
- engender community support for the organization
RIPA Board's financial objectives are:
- achieve negotiated cost savings
- full return of the Value of Care Pool
- transform culture from a cost-based price product to a price-based cost product
- maintain an equitable fee schedule and policies
- maintain the lowest administration cost to capitation ratio in the community
- achieve realistic capitation levels based on experience and quality concerns
Adopted by Board of Directors, January 26, 1999
