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LifeMasters Announces Four Year Disease Management Outcomes for
Florida Medicaid Beneficiaries
Disease management program has reduced hospitalizations and improved adherence
to evidence-based treatment regimens for chronic conditions
South San Francisco, Calif., April 25, 2006 – Demonstrating that the benefits of disease management programs are sustainable and can even improve over time, LifeMasters Supported SelfCare, Inc., a leading provider of disease management programs and services in the nation, announced a continuing trend of significantly improved outcomes for Medicaid (MediPass) beneficiaries with congestive heart failure (CHF) from its disease management program with Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).
LifeMasters and AHCA initiated one of the state’s earliest Medicaid disease management programs beginning in September 2000. As one of the industry’s first public-private disease management collaborations, Medicaid beneficiaries living in northern Florida were provided disease management services for CHF and all related conditions and comorbidities, including diabetes, COPD, hypertension and depression. After the first two years of the program, AHCA and LifeMasters announced positive outcomes related to cost and quality. In a recently completed study of the impact of the program over its first four years, hospitalizations continued to trend downward and clinical improvement continued to trend upward for each of the four years.
Since its inception, more than 11,500 MediPass beneficiaries have been enrolled in the program, which serves to support, educate and monitor program participants with the goal of improving their health, supporting behavioral and lifestyle changes and improving adherence to their physician’s treatment and drug regimens, resulting in reduced utilization of emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
LifeMasters and AHCA recently concluded a review of program performance for the first four years, evaluating key utilization, clinical and service measures for eligible MediPass beneficiaries. Key findings, derived from patient claims and self-reported information concluded that:
- Hospital admissions decreased by more than 25% over the 4 year period (from 1427 to 1059 per 1000 participants).
- Beneficiaries were more compliant in taking their prescribed medications. Usage of ACE inhibitors (drugs that increase the heart’s pumping action) improved by more than 78%, and the use of Beta Blockers improved by more than 63%, in line with CHF guidelines recommended by the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology.
- Improvement was shown in beneficiary functional status and ability to perform activities of daily living. In the 2002-03 and 2003-04 program years, participants who had been in the program for at least a year had significantly higher physical and mental summaries than those just entering the program, as measured by the SF-8™ Health Survey, a nationally recognized measurement standard of health status.
These results, together with a high level of program enrollment and participation, at 93.6% of the target population, strongly support the value of the LifeMasters program to MediPass beneficiaries, their providers and to the state of Florida, in driving improved health outcomes while reducing unnecessary utilization.
Participant satisfaction rates with the program exceeded 90%, with particularly high levels of satisfaction shown in their own self confidence in the management of their condition. These results suggest that participants feel greater empowerment to manage their own healthcare and participate in healthcare decisions.
- Over 92% of participants agreed that “LifeMasters educational materials increased my knowledge of my condition.”
- Over 88% agreed that “my interaction with my LifeMasters health professional helps me manage my condition.”
- Over 90% agreed that “I am able to follow the recommendations of my LifeMasters health professional.”
- Over 95% agreed that “The LifeMasters program addressed my specific health needs.”
“Florida has been a nationally recognized innovator in providing disease management services to its Medicaid beneficiaries and we have appreciated the opportunity to work together with AHCA to improve the quality of life for its citizens with chronic disease,” said David R. Strand, President & CEO of LifeMasters.
“LifeMasters is committed to providing disease management programs to underserved populations including Medicaid beneficiaries who often suffer from multiple chronic diseases and may need our services the most. Our partnership with AHCA has given us a greater understanding of how to customize our programs to meet a variety of these beneficiaries’ special needs in order to be successful,” continued Strand.
"This partnership demonstrates how health status can be improved through education, coordination of care and by involving the consumer in decision-making. The bottom line is this program has shown measurable results, which is why this model is the fundamental basis for Florida's Medicaid reform effort. I congratulate the health care professionals who are making it a success," stated Alan Levine, Secretary, Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration.
About Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA)
Working to improve access to affordable, quality health care for all Floridians, the state Agency for Health Care Administration administers Florida's $14 billion Medicaid program, licenses and regulates more than 32,000 health care facilities and 28 health maintenance organizations, and publishes health care data and statistics.
About LifeMasters Supported SelfCare
LifeMasters Supported SelfCare, Inc. is a leading provider of disease management programs and services that create health partnerships among individuals, their physicians and payors. Its mission is to empower individuals to achieve and maintain optimal health. The programs improve quality of care for people with chronic illnesses, reduce chronic-disease costs for payors and provide decision-support tools for physicians. LifeMasters offers programs for individuals with diabetes, congestive heart failure (CHF), coronary artery disease (CAD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hypertension and asthma (all of which are fully accredited by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and URAC) and musculo-skeletal pain. LifeMasters’ programs are holistically focused and support clinical co-morbidities such as depression and facilitate lifestyle changes such as smoking cessation and weight loss. LifeMasters provides services to more than 600,000 people throughout the nation.
For More Information Contact: |
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| Denise Apcar LifeMasters (650) 829-6217 pr@lifemasters.com |
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