A Grand Junction-based organization that works with health care providers and insurance companies to improve outcomes and lower costs has announced it’s reached a milestone in its efforts.

Western Colorado residents will be able to purchase health insurance in 2022 with comparable — and in some cases, lower — premiums than those offered on the Front Range.

“Our community is able to celebrate that the Monument Health benefits offered by Rocky Mountain Health Plans on the individual exchange compare favorably to similar products on the Front Range,” said Ashley Thurow, executive director of Monument Health. “In fact, Monument Health premiums were lower than they were in 2020. As we approach 2022, premiums are once again lower than last year.”

As a clinically integrated network (CIN), Monument Health works with health care providers, clinics and hospitals as well as insurance providers. Providers and hospitals in the network are held accountable for outcomes and rewarded based on the value of their care, not the number of patients they see. Since Monument Health was launched in 2016, providers care for a total of 20,000 members in Mesa County as well as Delta, Montrose and Moffat counties.

Monument Health promotes improved outcomes and lower spending by guaranteeing access to primary care providers, encouraging annual exams and educating members on where to go for care.

Thurow said those efforts have resulted in lower premiums for co-branded products on the Connect for Health Colorado insurance exchange sold by Rocky Mountain Health Plans, a UnitedHealthcare company.   

For 2021, Monument Health exchange plan premiums were on average 8 percent lower than they were in 2020. For 2022, Monument Health premiums will be on average 8 percent lower than 2021.

Patrick Gordon, chief executive officer of Rocky Mountain Health Plans based in Grand Junction, said those results have been years in the making. “There’s a lot that goes into delivering affordable health care to families. This represents a long-term solution because all of the partners are financially committed to quality, performance and creating a health care system inclusive of everyone’s needs. Inclusion equals results.” 

Dr. Michael Pramenko, chief medical officer and chairman of the board for Monument Health, said it’s important to replace the “sick care” model with a more proactive approach. “We have to include preventive measures so we can get ahead and move toward proactive results for health,” Pramenko said. “Obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, dietary risks and tobacco are costing the health care system billions of dollars. And remember, these same risk factors are increasing the risk of hospitalization and death from COVID. All of which are preventable.”

Thurow said Monument Health promotes that approach. “As long as Monument Health’s recipe moves the traditional delivery of health care away from sick care and builds sustainable models for value-based care with a focus on prevention, quality and affordability, the CIN will keep disrupting the old model of care. This leads to reducing waste and improving health outcomes.”

Thurow said there’s more work to be done, but lower health insurance premiums are worth celebrating. “They represent tangible success for our work since Monument Health’s inception in 2016 and real savings for Coloradans.”