A few days ago, for Consumer Operated and Oriented Plans (CO-OP), TriZetto Group, Inc. announced the availability of an integrated software and services solution that will be offered at a monthly subscription price.

Providing the technology and staffing infrastructure that these not-for-profit health plans need in order to administer benefits and care, the solution will enroll members by October 2013 for January 2014 effective dates. While providing the functionality to participate in state health insurance exchanges, TriZetto's platform will give CO-OPs the flexibility to administer value-based benefits and reimbursement arrangements.

The federal government, under the Affordable Care Act, is subsidizing more than $3 billion in loans for consumer focused CO-OPs to provide high-quality, low-cost, coordinated care beginning in 2014. Through individual and small-group policies, it is projected to serve as many as 12 million Americans.

Most CO-OPs will market themselves directly as well as through brokers and state exchanges, and will operate on a local or state wide basis.

"TriZetto alone offers three advantages to CO-Ops," said Rob Scavo, regional accounts market president for TriZetto.

Advantages include a reliable technology and staffing infrastructure that will be used by hundreds of healthcare payer organizations, including most of the country's not-for-profit health plans. To help consumers and providers make the most informed decisions about care, it provides a solution that transparently manages population health.

Lastly, enabling participation in state exchanges and supports innovative, emerging models of care delivery, it is a nimble, flexible and functionally rich platform that deploys quickly. According to Scavo, CO-OPs can get a quick jump out of the starting blocks with TriZetto's solution.

Tom Rekart, senior vice president of business management services at TriZetto, concluded that the company's turnkey solution is ideal for CO-OPs, which must clear many hurdles to become operational. 

Looking to grow your channel opportunities? Then be sure to attend Channel Vision Expo (CVx), collocated with ITEXPO Miami 2013, Jan 29- Feb. 1 in Miami, Florida.  Stay in touch with everything happening at Channel Vision Expo. Follow us on Twitter.