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Information about the LifeMasters Program
for Physicians and Other Healthcare Providers in Florida
Some of your patients may have been selected to participate in the LifeMasters program, a disease management program offered by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (Medicare). The program serves dual-eligible (Medicare and Medicaid) beneficiaries in Florida* who have heart failure or any combination of heart failure, diabetes and heart disease. Beneficiaries who participate in the LifeMasters program have no changes to their benefits and they can continue to see you. LifeMasters does not bill for its services, and at this time the program is not accepting self-referrals or direct referrals from providers. LifeMasters is the provider of this disease management program in Florida under a cooperative agreement with CMS.
Benefits Are Not Affected
The LifeMasters program is provided as part of the beneficiaries’ existing healthcare coverage at no additional cost to them. It is an additional service provided through Medicare. It is not an HMO or health insurance plan. Beneficiaries will still have the same level of benefits, access to you, their personal physician, your choice of home health or other ancillary service providers and access to your referral network. They will continue to see the same physicians and receive the same services.
Benefits To You and Your Practice
The LifeMasters program was designed to respect your time and minimize administrative inconvenience. With the help of a LifeMasters health coach, your patients are educated about their chronic conditions and taught how to track important vital signs and symptoms. There are several benefits to you when your patients participate in the LifeMasters program, including:
- Your patients with complex chronic conditions learn to follow and adhere to your treatment plan.
- If warning signs that might otherwise take another day or two to come to your attention are discovered through the program, you are notified, if clinically appropriate, through a faxed Health Alert that fits easily into your office’s work flow.
- Some of your patients’ routine questions that often take up your staff’s valuable time are handled by a LifeMasters health professional.
- Your patients learn how to make the most of their office visits with you, to make the best use of your valuable time.
- Your patients receive ongoing support and motivation to make the necessary lifestyle changes you have recommended to them.
- You only receive information on your patient that is clinically relevant and can be acted upon by you; the program does not interfere with your practice.
- Participants enjoy the additional support and physicians find it to be a reliable extra set of eyes and ears between office visits.
- You receive a Physician Quarterly Trend Report showing trended vital signs and symptoms for your participating patients, as well as current medications and changes, program compliance, and reported lab data and events.
| "My patient recently had an episode with low blood sugar. I received a comprehensive Health Alert from LifeMasters informing me of the situation. I was able to follow-up with my patient immediately which saved time and prevented major complications. Thanks to the LifeMasters program, my patient is now on a weight loss program and her blood glucose is within normal range."
Physician in Florida
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Benefits to Your Patients
There are many benefits to your patients who participate in the LifeMasters program:
- With the help of a LifeMasters personal health coach, your patients are taught how to track important vital signs and symptoms to detect changes in their health status early enough to avoid complications and possible hospitalizations.
- They receive training on how to make better food choices and start a suitable exercise program.
- They are encouraged to regularly take their medications and learn how to avoid situations that might make their condition worse.
- They receive educational materials filled with interesting articles, tips and advice to keep healthy
- Patients and their family members who are caregivers receive ongoing support and motivation to make the necessary lifestyle changes to improve their health.
The LifeMasters program is not a substitute for your medical care. It is designed to help beneficiaries understand and adhere to their prescribed care plans, support their care, and communicate more effectively with you and other healthcare providers. The program is also intended to improve coordination of care, give you more timely and complete patient information, and provide patient education and support.
The coaching from LifeMasters nurses can help the beneficiary get more out of their conversations with you or other healthcare providers. LifeMasters nurses are trained health professionals who have many years of experience working with individuals who have chronic illnesses throughout the nation. The LifeMasters program has documented success in helping Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries manage their chronic conditions and improve their health. We thank you in advance for your support of the program and hope you will encourage your patients, who are invited to join the program, to do so. If you receive an inquiry about the program and need additional information, please feel free to contact LifeMasters at
1-800-250-3259.
*As of March 5, 2007 the LifeMasters program is available in the following Florida counties: Alachua, Broward, Miami-Dade, Marion , Palm Beach , Seminole and Volusia.
