PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that Finity Communications, in partnership with Health Partners of Philadelphia and SCIOinspire of Farmington, CT, is the recipient of a $4.9 million, three-year Health Care Innovation grant presented by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). One of 26 proposals selected from over 3,000 applications nationwide, the grant will be used to improve health care for high-need populations in the Greater Philadelphia region.
Made possible by the health care law – the Affordable Care Act – this Health Care Innovation grant will support the use of health information technology and peer mentoring to empower interested Health Partners members to improve their health status.
“We are excited to bring this groundbreaking project to the Greater Philadelphia area,” said William S. George, President and CEO of Health Partners. “We believe this creative use of innovative technology, data and peer health mentors will provide a sustainable model for improving care and lowering costs for all our members, and particularly those with complex medical needs.”
This comprehensive approach to health care is expected to reduce the total cost of care through prevention, maintaining wellness, and management of disease and chronic conditions with estimated savings of approximately $8.7 million. Over the three-year period, the program will create an estimated 12 new jobs, including four in the Greater Philadelphia region. These workers will be part of a unique network of peer “health mentors,” who will be trained to conduct outreach and support lifestyle change through prevention, outreach and wellness education programs.
Some of these technologies have been available to consumers with commercial and employer health insurance, but Mr. George believes many of Health Partners’ ethnically diverse, underserved enrollees will also embrace these new, user-friendly and empowering ways to take control of their health status.
The first batch of Health Care Innovation Awards was announced by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “We can’t wait to support innovative projects that will save money and make our health care system stronger,” said Secretary Sebelius. “It’s yet another way we are supporting local communities now in their efforts to provide better care and lower costs.”
Preliminary awardees were chosen not only for their innovative solutions to the health care challenges facing their communities, but also for their focus on creating a well-trained health care workforce that is equipped to meet the need for new jobs in the 21st century health system.
“We are honored to have been selected for this exciting initiative,” said Deborah Stewart, President of Finity. “By bringing together technology, integrated health profiles, and outreach through peer-to-peer health mentors, we can help individuals improve their health and reduce health care costs.”
For more information on the awards announced, go to: innovations.cms.gov/initiatives/innovation-awards/project-profiles.html.
About Health Partners: Health Partners is a not-for-profit health plan serving nearly 170,000 members in the Greater Philadelphia region. Its HealthChoices Medicaid plan consistently ranks number one in the area for member satisfaction in an annual consumer survey; is rated as “Excellent,” the highest level possible, by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA); and was the first plan in the nation to receive NCQA’s Multicultural Health Care Distinction. In 2009, the company launched KidzPartners, which provides free or low-cost health insurance to uninsured children and teens through CHIP, Pennsylvania's Children's Health Insurance Program. Founded more than 25 years ago, Health Partners is one of the few hospital-owned health plans in the country and has received national recognition for its innovations in managed care. For more information about Health Partners, please visit www.healthpart.com.
About Finity Communications: Finity Communications is a leading provider of systems-based technology and communication solutions for some of the largest health plan providers in the U.S. Finity is the creator of the EveryBODY Get Healthy closed-loop system that is the platform for the Innovation project. Our mission is to empower individuals to make conscious health and wellness decisions. For more information about Finity, please visit www.finity.com.
About SCIOinspire: Based in Farmington, Connecticut, SCIOinspire serves more than 50 health care payers, including 10 of the top 24 insurers and three of the top five insurers, who represent more than 80 million members. SCIOinspire focuses on the science of data analytics and reporting, outcomes measurement and the use of outcomes to improve healthcare services and results. Our emphasis is on using actuarial, data analytic, and economic science combined with our extensive healthcare domain experience and expertise to deliver valid and credible information to support healthcare program operations. For more information about SCIOinspire, please visit www.scioinspire.com.
CONTACT:
Health Partners of Philadelphia
Felicia R. Phillips
215-967-4580/office
215-356-7716/cell
KEYWORDS: United States North America Pennsylvania
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Technology Data Management Health Nursing General Health Managed Care
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