Columbia United Providers Adds Diabetes Disease Management After Members Find Success with McKesson Corporation's Asthma Program.Business, Health/Medical Editors BROOMFIELD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 11, 2002 Diabetes Disease Management Program Aids Medicaid Medicaid, national health insurance program in the United States for low-income persons; established in 1965 with passage of the Social Security Amendments and now run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Beneficiaries in Washington State Positive patient outcomes with McKesson Corporation's CareEnhancesm Disease Management Asthma Program led Columbia United Providers (CUP) to introduce a new diabetes disease management program for its Medicaid members. The Vancouver, Wash.-based health plan, which serves approximately 40,000 Medicaid members in a five-county region, rolled-out the McKesson CareEnhance Disease Management Diabetes Program after researching medical claims information indicating that members who were high users of diabetes-related medical services could benefit from the program. "Our members' success in McKesson's asthma program led CUP to look at other chronic illnesses where we could make a difference with a DM program. We decided that CUP could positively impact our members' lives by offering a similarly high-quality diabetes program with McKesson's help," said Tom Culhane, M.D., medical director at Columbia United Providers. CUP began the asthma disease management program in 2001 and has shown positive results including increased use of asthma action plans and the medication needed to control asthma symptoms. Prior to the asthma program, CUP implemented McKesson CareEnhance 24X7 Triage triage Division of patients for priority of care, usually into three categories: those who will not survive even with treatment; those who will survive without treatment; and those whose survival depends on treatment. in 2000. "Healthcare costs are rising throughout the country and McKesson's patient-centric disease management programs are one way that health plans can help control costs and increase patient satisfaction and well-being. CUP recognizes that flexible disease management programs help contain their costs and those of their members," said Sandeep Wadhwa, M.D., vice president of CareEnhance Disease Management at McKesson Health Solutions. About McKesson Corporation McKesson Corporation is the leading provider of supply, information and care management products and services designed to reduce costs and improve quality across healthcare. Founded in 1833, with annual revenues of more than US$50 billion, McKesson ranks as the 31st-largest industrial company 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. . The McKesson Health Solutions business unit offers integrated technologies and services for the payor, provider and pharmaceutical manufacturer markets. The CareEnhance(SM) Services division provides call center and online programs for disease management, nurse triage, early identification and referrals. The CareEnhance(TM) Products division supplies workflow technology Workflow technology is a new field of software products designed to improve the design of information systems. It involves use of workflow engine to execute models of processes. The models can be edited by persons not experienced in programming (e.g. that facilitates case, disease and utilization management Utilization management is the evaluation of the appropriateness, medical need and efficiency of health care services procedures and facilities according to established criteria or guidelines and under the provisions of an applicable health benefits plan. ; business intelligence tools for measuring, reporting, and improving clinical and financial performance; and InterQual(R) Criteria for clinical decision support. The Specialty Pharmaceutical division supplies multiple channels with services for specialty product dispensing dispensing provision of drugs or medicines as set out properly on a lawful prescription. A prescription can only be filled, the drugs supplied, by a registered pharmacist, veterinarian, dentist or member of the medical profession. , reimbursement Reimbursement Payment made to someone for out-of-pocket expenses has incurred. , patient support and compliance, and wholesale distribution. About Columbia United Providers Columbia United Providers (formerly Clark United Providers) is a for-profit regional health plan located in Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver, Washington is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River, in the state of Washington, USA. It is the county seat of Clark County. . CUP was formed as a private not-for-profit cooperative in1994 to serve as the focal point focal point n. See focus. and administrative arm of a local Integrated Delivery System integrated delivery system Integrated provider Medical practice A coordinated health care system formed by physician groups and hospitals which ↑ efficiency and ↓ redundancy in providing health care; IDSs coordinate delivery of a broad range of health . It was converted to a for-profit health plan in 1997, and has since pursued a focused strategy of direct contracting with the state's Healthy Options and Basic Health Plan programs. CUP provides services to 40,000 enrolled members through a network of providers representing the majority of primary care and specialty providers over a five county area, as well as Southwest Washington Medical Center, St. Johns Hospital and their associated providers. |
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