Swiss Medical Network and Visana Launch a Nationwide Strategic Partnership in Integrated Care

Hospital group Swiss Medical Network and Bernese insurance group Visana and are strengthening their partnership in the field of nationwide integrated care. Following the establishment of Switzerland's first integrated health organization in the region of Arc Jurassien, Swiss Medical Network and Visana plan to create additional integrated care regions in Switzerland over the next few years. As part of this strategic partnership, Visana Beteiligungen AG is acquiring 11.1% of Swiss Medical Network SA through a capital increase.

Swiss Medical Network has demonstrated an ability to restructure dysfunctional and deficit-ridden establishments or organizations. This success is attributable to the expertise and experience accumulated over more than 20 years by its leadership and organs. Swiss Medical Network establishments are recognized for their above-average quality, and their prices are among the lowest in Switzerland. Swiss Medical Network notably took over the Hôpital du Jura Bernois in 2019, turned it around, and transformed it into Réseau de l’Arc SA, an integrated care organization serving the population of the Arc Jurassien in partnership with the canton of Bern and the Bernese insurance group Visana.

Paradigm Shift in the Swiss Health System
With their strategic partnership, Swiss Medical Network and Visana envision transforming the Swiss health system from a "SickCare system" to a true "HealthCare system". The two partners intend to proactively address the challenges of the Swiss health system – including the constant increase in health costs and premiums, as well as misdirected financial incentives regarding services – with the medium and long-term goal of creating multiple integrated care regions across Switzerland, where all actors (customers, insurance, care providers, and further care structures) are coordinated by a regional integrated health organization. The emphasis is on maintaining the health of members and the principles of individualized, customer-centered, high-quality treatment and follow-up in case of illness.

National Partnership as the Logical Successor to Regional Collaboration in the Arc Jurassien
The regional collaboration within the integrated care organization "Réseau de l'Arc" is followed by cooperation between Swiss Medical Network and Visana on a national scale, a logical step in their common integrated care strategy. "Visana wants to play a pioneering role in integrated care and develop sustainable solutions for the challenges of the Swiss health system. Together with our partner Swiss Medical Network, we aim to influence and shape the future of the Swiss health system" says Lorenz Hess, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Visana.

Antoine Hubert, delegate of the board of directors of Swiss Medical Network, emphasizes: “We are convinced that only close cooperation between insurers and care providers will enable cost control. The current system is exhausted, we must collectively create the framework conditions for the future by grouping actors into regional or national care organizations that promote population health maintenance and quality improvement."

Integrated Care in the Arc Jurassien is Taking Shape
Réseau de l’Arc SA, the integrated care organization in the Arc Jurassien, initiated by Swiss Medical Network and Visana, is beginning to take shape. Subject to approval by the FOPH, an alternative insurance model is planned for the region of Arc Jurassien from January 1, 2024. The "Viva Health Plan" for this region is specifically designed to meet the needs of the local population and puts health preservation at the center of the offering. By developing and improving the coordination of care structures within the "Réseau de l'Arc" project, Swiss Medical Network and Visana are making a significant contribution to ensuring the provision of high-quality, needs-adapted medical care in the Arc Jurassien, a predominantly rural region.

Swiss Medical Network to Expand and Strengthen its Primary Care Network in Switzerland
The capital increase and the entry of Visana Beteiligungen AG into the capital of Swiss Medical Network will accelerate the development of its primary care and home care network. These two activities are essential in the implementation of Accountable Care Organizations aiming to improve the quality of population care and reduce health costs. The goals are to facilitate rapid and early care for the population, reduce costs through integration of various actors, improve home care services, and reduce hospital stay durations through a coordinated care approach

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