FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      
June 11, 2009

Contact: 
Cheri Russum, Providence Everett Medical Center 425-304-0591 cheri.russum@Providence.org
April Zepeda, The Everett Clinic 425-304-1139 azepeda@everettclinic.com

National Healthcare Commission Visits Top Performing Healthcare Providers in Everett

Providence Regional Medical Center and The Everett Clinic Host MedPAC

Everett, WA – Three members of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), recently

visited Providence Regional Medical Center and The Everett Clinic to learn more about how to

deliver healthcare in an effective and efficient manner. MedPAC requested a site visit because

both organizations have achieved outstanding results in the effort to improve healthcare quality

while reducing costs.

          Providence Regional Medical Center Everett is one of the top performers in the nation on

the efficiency metrics which MedPAC examines. These metrics include death rates measured 30

days after hospitalization, cost per patient discharge and readmission rates. 

          The Everett Clinic has been selected as one of only 10 physician groups across the

country by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to participate in a national project aimed at

improving healthcare for seniors.

          The overall purpose of the visit was for the MedPAC delegation to learn what makes

healthcare in Everett different from other communities. The group toured both organizations and

examinedcollaboration among local independent medical groups.

          MedPAC is an independent Congressional agency established by the Balanced Budget Act

of 1997 (P.L. 105-33) to advise the U.S. Congress on issues affecting the Medicare program. The

Commission's statutory mandate is quite broad: in addition to advising Congress on payments to

private health plans participating in Medicare and providers in Medicare's traditional fee-for-service

program, MedPAC is also tasked with analyzing access to care, quality of care, and other issues

affecting Medicare.