March 3, 2022
Starting February 1, 2022,
Alaska members have access to the Total Joint Replacement (TJR) Center of
Excellence (COE) program at Creekside Surgery Center in Anchorage. If a
member belongs to a group with the program, their prior authorization will be
evaluated against the TJR medical policy.
The program is built on Bree
Collaborative guidelines, clinical
quality and cost parameters. These evidence-based standards for optimal
surgical outcomes are included within
the TJR medical policy, which will be applied to members whose plan includes the TJR Centers
of Excellence Program.
The two procedures included
in the bundled payment designation are total knee replacement and total hip
replacement. The bundle covers a set of pre- and post-surgery procedures in
addition to the TJR. The bundle includes high-touch care coordination and
travel benefits, including hotel and airfare administered by Premera.