L.A. Care Health Plan, the nation's largest public health plan, and Health Integrated Inc., a leading Targeted Population Health Management company, are collaborating to improve outcomes for populations being served by L.A. Care Health Plan. The program helps to strengthen services for primary care physicians, and to reduce costs for L.A. Care's Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, Healthy Kids and Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan members with behavioral health conditions (see also Managed Care).
L.A. Care will integrate key components of Health Integrated's Synergy Targeted Population Management(R) platform to support primary care physicians in their treatment of members with mild to moderate behavioral health conditions. Through the program, primary care physicians will have hotline access to board-certified Health Integrated behavioral health specialists for consultation on diagnosis, patient management, medication regimens and referral assistance to behavioral health specialists when necessary.
'At L.A. Care, we are constantly seeking innovative ways to help support our primary care physicians and increase the quality of care for our members,' says Elaine Batchlor, Chief Medical Officer of L.A. Care. 'This program gives doctors the support they need to strengthen the integration of physical and behavioral healthcare in a primary care setting.'
In addition to consultation services, other program elements include care management, assessment tools and educational resources. Health Integrated will also help primary care clinicians with referral support to California's Department of Mental Health or the PacifiCare Behavioral Health Network as appropriate for their patients.
'L.A. Care is a leader in supporting providers and their members, helping them to take the necessary steps to optimal health while partnering in their treatment and medication plan regimens,' says Sam Toney, Vice Chairman and Chief Medical Officer at Health Integrated. 'Using proven behavioral health management strategies, Health Integrated works within the primary care physicians' treatment approach to better provide the support those physicians need to most effectively treat patients with medical and psychosocial issues. By integrating the Synergy platform, L.A. Care will enhance its support of primary care providers and members, thus improving health outcomes while reducing unnecessary healthcare costs.'
Keywords: Behavior, Health Policy, Managed Care, Medicare, Public Health, Quality of Care, Health Integrated.
This article was prepared by Biotech Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Biotech Week via NewsRx.com.
