APS Healthcare's Health Management Program Helps Save State of Wyoming Nearly $13 Million in Healthcare Costs in First Year.SILVER SPRING, Md. & CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- APS Healthcare, one of the country's leading specialty healthcare companies, and the Wyoming Department of Health's EqualityCare (Medicaid) program announced today that APS' Healthy Together total population health management program helped the state avoid more than $12.7 million in unnecessary healthcare costs. These results were for the aged, blind and disabled Medicaid population in its first reconciliation year, which ended on Dec. 31, 2005. Through the Wyoming EqualityCare program, APS managed an average of more than 7,800 clients per month through its Healthy Together health management programs, which includes programs for clients with asthma, coronary artery disease coronary artery disease, condition that results when the coronary arteries are narrowed or occluded, most commonly by atherosclerotic deposits of fibrous and fatty tissue. , chronic obstructive pulmonary disease chronic obstructive pulmonary disease n. Abbr. COPD A chronic lung disease, such as asthma or emphysema, in which breathing becomes slowed or forced. , chronic heart failure, depression, diabetes and other disease states. The average cost avoidance Cost avoidance is a management accounting term referring to an expense one has avoided incurring. It is commonly used in the field of energy management to describe the energy costs you avoided due to energy management initiatives. for clients, while still maintaining quality care, was $135 each month, which was $36 above the target savings per member per month. In addition to the financial benefits, APS health coaches also helped clients achieve significant improvements in prevention measures such as diabetes testing, eye exams, glucose monitoring glucose monitoring Lab medicine The periodic evaluation of any analyte abnormal in Pts with DM, to assess short and long-term control with antiglycemic agents. See Glucose, Glycated hemoglobin. , statin stat·in n. Any of a class of drugs that inhibit a key enzyme involved in the synthesis of cholesterol and promote receptor binding of LDL cholesterol, resulting in decreased levels of serum cholesterol. usage, cholesterol monitoring, bronchodilator bronchodilator /bron·cho·di·la·tor/ (-di´la-ter) 1. expanding the lumina of the air passages of the lungs. 2. an agent which causes dilatation of the bronchi. usage and other preventative treatments and testing to improve their overall health and well-being. The financial and clinical results were confirmed by Milliman, a global consulting and actuarial firm. "APS' disease management produced excellent health outcomes and financial savings for the state of Wyoming," said Al Lewis, president, Disease Management Purchasing Consortium International, Inc. "Significant decline in utilization covering heart attacks, asthma attacks, fluid overload fluid overload Hypervolemia, plethora Medtalk A systemic excess of fluids. Cf Volume depletion. and other events, which can be prevented through effective disease management, contributed to a significant overall reduction in hospital costs." "APS' health management programs have exceeded our expectations," said Teri Green, EqualityCare manager. "We are fortunate to partner with a company that understands the complexity of our healthcare system and is able to tailor its programs to meet the needs of our providers and clients." The success of the Wyoming program is enhanced by the company's use of its client-based health management model. APS uses a decentralized de·cen·tral·ize v. de·cen·tral·ized, de·cen·tral·iz·ing, de·cen·tral·iz·es v.tr. 1. To distribute the administrative functions or powers of (a central authority) among several local authorities. , collaborative care model to improve Medicaid client and provider engagement in health management programs, increase compliance with recommended care plans and improve coordination within the healthcare system. "Through our community-based model, we are able to assist Wyoming Medicaid in ways that have proven to be effective," said David Hunsaker, president, APS Public Programs. "We are excited by these favorable results and ready to continue efforts to improve the health of these clients." About APS APS Healthcare, headquartered in Silver Spring, Md., is a leading provider of specialty healthcare solutions that cover more than 20 million members in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and Puerto Rico. APS offers customized, integrated healthcare solutions across two major healthcare product lines - care management and behavioral health services. APS operates under the belief that managing healthcare for the mind and body improves overall health and reduces total healthcare spending. For more information, visit www.apshealthcare.com. |
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