Clinical staff added to support
enhanced Special Needs Plan care model
BALTIMORE (April 28, 2010) – Care Improvement Plus, a leading provider of Medicare special needs plan (SNP) solutions for chronically ill and underserved seniors, today announced it will be adding 20 medical practitioners to its Georgia and Texas-based regional offices to support new enhancements to the plan’s model of care for high-risk chronically ill beneficiaries.
“Our model of care has evolved from one that manages care based on a priority of specific diseases, to a system that takes a more comprehensive view of member care needs and their potential risk for health complications,” said Dr. John Mach, Chief Medical Officer for XLHealth, which owns and operates Care Improvement Plus. “We now coordinate and manage members’ health across a continuum of care making every effort to avoid any type of unnecessary hospitalization.”
Under the enhanced model of care, care management nurses for Care Improvement Plus help coordinate care among network providers and are trained to help members navigate the health care system, working with beneficiaries to ensure they have transitional care support, proper management of medications and help spotting early warning signs of complications. The enhanced model represents a broader approach to care, using a high level of expertise to implement evidence-based strategies proven effective in improving quality and reducing hospital visits.
Care Improvement Plus is a leader in coordinated care models, which emphasize prevention, identify problems before they become acute, and bridge gaps in treatment—ensuring physicians, caregivers and pharmacists are kept informed of member’s health status, and assisting those who are medically homeless to access necessary services.
A recent study* in Health Affairs, a leading public policy journal, identified lack of coordinated care in treating seniors with chronic conditions as a major reason for the staggering rise in Medicare spending over the past two decades. The study suggested that better care coordination, evidence-based community prevention and support for patient self-management are the cornerstones for successful treatment of seniors with chronic illnesses.
Developed by Dr. Mach and a leadership group, the Care Improvement Plus model stratifies members into four levels of risk. The levels indicate the members’ relative risk for complications – Level 1 members are higher functioning and at a lower risk of complications, while at the opposite end of the spectrum, Level 4 members are those with advanced illness needs, such as those nearing end of life.
Of the 20 new employees, 10 will be based in Atlanta and 10 in San Antonio, Texas, respectively.
About XLHealth Corporation
XLHealth Corporation (http://www.xlhealth.com) is the owner and operator of Care Improvement Plus (http://www.careimprovementplus.com), a Medicare Advantage health plan committed to delivering quality health care benefits and serving the underserved. Focused on improving patient outcomes and reducing health care spending, Care Improvement Plus provides comprehensive Medicare coverage and a Part D prescription drug benefit, plus additional services such as dental and vision coverage, and care management support.
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