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...
5 Strategies to Effectively Manage Medicaid Populations
As of May 2022, nearly 89,000,000 people were enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), according to government data. To effectively manage care for these populations, payers and providers must do the following: Streamline delivery of preventive, holistic care Broaden access to resources for enrollees Boost patient/member engagement Improve coordination of care Knowing where to start executing or improving upon these initiatives can be the hardest part. Fortunately, data points to five critical areas to address for Medicaid populations. Pediatric health Access to food Behavioral health Telehealth access Hospital readmissions In this blog, we look at important...
11 Ways HELIOS Can Help Payers with Complex Medicare Populations
Improving health outcomes and reducing costs of care for Medicare populations may seem like an overwhelming challenge with chronic conditions costing billions each year. After all, these populations are typically older, and with age comes the onset of some of the most common (and expensive to manage) chronic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, heart failure, hypertension, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and Alzheimer’s disease. The high cost to manage these patients is very much on CMS’ radar, however, and has prompted CMS and many Medicare plans to adopt value-based care models that focus on preventive care and reducing the associated issues related to chronic conditions...
6 Ways to Enhance Chronic Care Management for Medicare & Medicare Advantage Populations
Improve Health Outcomes, Drive Member Engagement, and Reduce Costs Complex and chronic conditions are commonplace among Medicare populations, and one of the most expensive drivers of healthcare spending. In 2017, an estimated 66 percent of all non-dual-eligible Medicare beneficiaries were living with two or more chronic conditions. In 2020, data from the Chronic Conditions Data Warehouse (CCW) found that 31,860,990 Medicare beneficiaries had a chronic condition. Annually, chronic conditions are multibillion-dollar expenditures. For example, in 2017, heart disease and strokes cost the U.S. $363 billion per year, diabetes: $327 billion, and arthritis: $304 billion. Each was split between direct medical costs...