For best results when printing this announcement, please click on the link
below:
http://pdf.reuters.com/pdfnews/pdfnews.asp?i=43059c3bf0e37541&u=urn:newsml:reuters.com:20130213:nPnPH59268
Model uses health systems' own employee populations to realize ACO cost savings,
increased patient engagement and satisfaction
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Health systems evaluating their
delivery system reform options are finding success in programs that focus on
improving the health of their own workforce, according to a new white paper
published today by Evolent Health.
Building off of the accountable care movement that is dramatically changing the
health system landscape, Evolent Health has identified the unique value of the
employee accountable care organization (eACO)-a network of coordinated care
specifically focused on improving the health of a hospital's employee
population. Evolent Health is a management services population health company
that integrates the technology, tools and on-the-ground resources to support
health systems in executing on their population health and care transformation
objectives.
"The eACO gives health systems a proof-of-concept opportunity in a controlled
environment, as they begin to explore what works and what doesn't when it comes
to accountable care," said Eric Parmenter, vice president of Employer Services,
Evolent Health, and the paper's author. Moreover, according to Parmenter,
hospitals and health systems are a target-rich environment for lowering costs
and improving health because the costs associated with employee health benefits
are higher.
Health data comparisons show that employees in the healthcare industry have
higher instances of obesity, smoking, chronic disease, and stress-related
illnesses than the average employee in America. Additionally, data show the
cost of providing benefits to healthcare employees and their families is
$11,651 per employee, per year, [1] compared to an average annual benefit cost
of $10,475 for large companies from all industries. [2]
In 2004, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) successfully
implemented an ACO-like model when it launched MyHealth, a population health
management program equipped with a full suite of wellness offerings aimed at
employees and dependents. Within two years, more than 90 percent of employees
had actively engaged in the program, and the five-year compounded savings for
UPMC over industry benchmarks exceeds $65 million. Evolent Health is currently
working with UPMC to bring its successful model to health systems across the
nation.
"The eACO is a win-win for health systems and their employees," said Evolent
Health's Parmenter. "Tackling population health for employees through the eACO
will not only help a system get to scale on health management capabilities
quicker, but also improve the health of its workers, lowers benefits costs and
increase productivity."
Visit Evolent Health's websiteto read the full white paper.
About Evolent Health
Evolent Health is a provider of population and health plan management
capabilities. The platform integrates people, process and technology to work
together in driving measurable results and near-term return to health systems
that are migrating toward value-based care reimbursement models. Evolent's
platform is designed as an all-payer solution allowing health systems to manage
patient populations from any payer or value-based care initiative, including
Commercial, managed Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, the Medicare shared savings
program and other similar initiatives. For more information, please visit
www.evolenthealth.com.
[1] 2012 SullivanCotter/HighRoads Survey of Employee Benefit Practices in
Hospitals and Health Systems.
[2] Average Cost of U.S. Health Coverage per Employee is Expected to Cross the
$10,000 Threshold for the First Time in 2012, According to Aon Hewitt. Aon
Hewitt Health Benefit Cost Press Release. October 3, 2011. Available from:
www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/average-cost-of-us-health-coverage-per-employee-is-expected-to-cross-the-10000-threshold-for-the-first-time-in-2012-according-to-aon-hewitt-130847468.html.
SOURCE Evolent Health
Kristi Betz, +1-410-821-8220, [email protected]
