This post is the first in a five-part series highlighting top insights from our white paper, Personalized Value-Based Care: Effective Multi-Generational Care Management Strategies. Addressing generation-specific attitudes, concerns, and preferences regarding healthcare, as well as non-clinical factors that impact health like social determinants of health (SDOH), is integral to member engagement and better outcomes. In this blog, we explore the Senior generation – many of which are members of Medicare (Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage, as well as possibly Medicare Part D prescription drug plans), and may also have Medicaid, TRICARE and/or VA benefits. What Makes Seniors Unique When It Comes to Healthcare?...
Can Patient Education Improve Care Plan Compliance and Health Outcomes?
The impact of health knowledge and what care managers can do to improve health literacy in 2023 In October 2022, VirtualHealth discussed the rising importance of health literacy with Christy Calhoun, MPH, Chief Content Officer, Healthwise, and our own Lori Coates, N-BC, CCM, CCTM, Director of Population Health and Value-Based Care Solutions. Here, we further explore the benefits of improving health literacy through patient education, highlighting some key learnings from our recent conversation with Christy and Lori. “Taking care of your health is a challenge for all of us. But having access to accurate, engaging health education is such a...
How We Support Value-Based Partnerships Between Payers & Providers
The term “payvider” isn’t new. It’s part of the inspiration behind our HELIOS platform – to enable and support value-based partnerships between payers and providers. But in recent years, the desire of health systems to become involved in risk management has increased. A survey in 2021 found that nearly 60% of health systems aimed to become payviders by getting into risk-based Medicare Advantage payment models by 2022. It also found that these systems were looking to diversify their risk-based payment strategies by opting for: – Commercial employer-based risk contracts – Medicare payment models – Managed Medicaid –...
Why is Health Literacy Essential to Improve Health Outcomes and Health Equity?
A discussion with leading experts in health education and care management Due to the rising importance of health literacy to improving individuals’ health outcomes and well-being, as well as eliminating health disparities and achieving health equity, VirtualHealth sat down with Healthwise Chief Content Officer Christy Calhoun, MPH, and our own Director of Population Health and Value-Based Care Solutions Lori Coates, RN-BC, CCM, CCTM. Below we provide a quick update on health literacy in the United States and then dive in with Christy and Lori to discuss the value of health literacy in improving health equity and outcomes and look at...
Improve Medicare Advantage Member Engagement with HELIOS
Member engagement is about more than higher Medicare Star Ratings and keeping member bases loyal. A highly engaged health plan member is one who is actively involved in their health and wellness, and one who is more likely to adhere to care plan instructions, treatment, and medication regimens, and prioritize improving their overall state of health and well-being. Today, Medicare beneficiaries are mostly made up of Seniors and Baby Boomers. These two generations have some similarities in their preferences for healthcare (how health and related communications and experiences are delivered and received) but some distinctions exist. [Get specific insights on both generations’ unique care preferences, SDOH concerns,...
Developing the Future of Care
Q&A with CEO and Founder Adam Sabloff and Vice President of Product Management Marcus Caraballo. The healthcare industry is evolving. As more and more organizations seek to implement a value-based care approach, many are realizing the importance of data interoperability, whole-person health, and the need to address and solve for social determinants of health (SDOH). To get the inside scoop on how VirtualHealth is addressing these challenges in 2023, we sat down with CEO and Founder Adam Sabloff and Vice President of Product Management Marcus Caraballo. VH: VirtualHealth has been working on a lot of innovation lately, but what’s coming...
How to Improve Care for Members with Medicare Who Need Long-term Services and Supports (LTSS)
This is the first article in a six-part series exploring ways to improve the delivery of whole-person, value-based care to Medicare and Medicare Advantage populations. Here, we dive into our first area of focus: ensuring optimal care for members who need long-term services and supports (LTSS), for which Medicare does not provide comprehensive coverage. You can also download our white paper Effectively Managing Medicare Populations: 6 Focus Care Areas to get more information and insights. A significant percentage of members with Medicare over age 65 will likely need some level of LTSS care at some point. This may include activities of daily...
How to Use HELIOS to Drive Higher Star Quality Ratings
Every year the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) releases the Star Ratings for Medicare Advantage plans. The Medicare Star Rating System was developed to help Medicare consumers compare Medicare Advantage plans based on quality and performance. Star ratings are determined from a set of quality performance ratings developed by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and CMS. Medicare Advantage plans are rated on how well they perform in 5 categories based on the five-star rating scale, with five being the highest score. Plans are given an overall rating based on their performance in five categories. Staying healthy (screenings,...
How to Address Behavioral and Mental Health in a Whole-Person Care Approach
Behavioral health and mental health conditions are highly prevalent across generations. About 11% of adults and 3% of youth had alcohol use disorder and 21% of U.S. adults had a mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia a 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found. More recently the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that 1 in 20 Americans live with a serious mental illness (bipolar disorder, major depression, etc.). Behavioral and mental health are critical aspects of whole-person care. Behavioral health relates to the specific actions a person takes surrounding their health. Mental...
How Will Tech Transform Healthcare by 2035?
Four ways technology supported by artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT) is creating a connected, consumer-driven health industry that enables greater health equity and overall care Sustainability. Transparency. A paradigm shift from reactive acute care to proactive preventive care. These goals are driving big changes in the healthcare industry. They’re part of what drive us at VirtualHealth. Thanks to an evolving health technology landscape and accomplishments in the AI and IoT fields, we’re poised to make significant progress on them – and effect transformative benefits for patients, providers, and payers. H2: Key Benefits of a Transformed Healthcare...