By Andy Metzger

State House News Service

BOSTON -- With 75 percent of its business already coming from "value-based" alternatives to the fee-for-service payment model, Atrius Health believes it has the experience to help guide policy recommendations as part of a new national group aimed at bettering health care.

"We have always been there, back to the founding," said Emily Brower, executive director of Atrius Accountable Care Programs.

Accountable-care organizations take on the responsibility for providing health care without the a-la-carte payment method, and many in the health-policy world see them as a vehicle to encourage more efficient and better care. The Newton-based health-care provider group joined the new Health Care Transformation Task Force, which aims to improve outcomes and efficiency in the health field.

Brower told the News Service organizations seeking to provide "value-based" health must first have a "foundation" of quality services and look for gaps in their infrastructure for treating particular maladies.

"That can be hard to put that together," said Brower. She said when other providers move toward "value-based" delivery "that helps us tremendously," and she said payers have "absolutely" become more amenable to that model of payment.

Atrius was formed in 2004 and consisted of Dedham Medical Associates, Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Southboro Medical Group and South Shore Medical Center.

Partners HealthCare, the largest provider organization in Massachusetts, announced Wednesday it would increase its "value-based" business from 50 percent to 75 percent in its primary-care operations over the next five years. Partners is also part of the task force, which set the 75 percent goal.

Brower said high-deductible health-insurance plans can mesh with the aims of accountable-care organizations as long as they do not discourage patients from seeking preventative care.

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Atrius part of national health-care task force