• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

APS Healthcare Expands Reach in Georgia As Disease Management Contract is Forged

Posted on: Wednesday, 17 August 2005, 09:00 CDT

APS Healthcare Midwest LLC (APS) today announced that it has been selected by the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) to provide Population and Disease Management Services for Medicaid recipients in 53 counties in the state.

APS' dedicated government business unit, APS Public Programs, offers services to improve health care delivery and outcomes for high-risk, vulnerable populations for seven state government programs and numerous private payors across the US. Its Georgia Disease Management contract, one of the largest in the US for state payors, will provide health coaching, care management, education, 24-hour nurse call center and pharmacy consultation to an estimated 53,000 Medicaid beneficiaries within the northern region of the state, including Atlanta. The north and south regions comprise the entire state of Georgia and cover all aged, blind or disabled (ABD) Medicaid beneficiaries in the state.

The Disease Management program complements seven existing contracts that APS administers for the State of Georgia, including utilization management, provider training, and quality improvement initiatives for the state's public sector behavioral health systems. APS' Georgia External Review Organization (ERO)-- funded by the Georgia Division of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse and the (DCH) Division of Medical Assistance--ensures that the 1.4 million eligible Medicaid beneficiaries with a history of mental health, substance abuse and other disabilities get the appropriate services to facilitate their recovery.

"The State of Georgia leadership is very wise in recognizing that persons with chronic illnesses, co-morbid conditions and disabilities--especially those relying solely on Medicaid for health coverage-- need personalized approaches to their health to assure they receive quality, cost-effective care," explains APS Public Programs President, David Hunsaker. "APS' patient-centric, provider-supportive and population-sensitive disease management program has a strong foundation in states such as Wyoming, Hawaii, Wisconsin and Louisiana. We have already assisted Georgia in saving hundreds of millions of dollars since 1999 and expect outstanding outcomes for this bold new state initiative."

The new APS Disease Management program will offer support to those ABD members who have been diagnosed with a chronic illness including asthma; diabetes; at-risk heart conditions; congestive heart failure; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; psychiatric disorders; hemophilia; and risk factors related to chronic illness.

Recipients will be supported by a team of nurses, physician advisors, pharmacists and social workers who coordinate care with patients' respective health care providers; reinforce information and treatment plans provided by those health care providers; provide patients and family with appropriate education on their health; and, assure that patients are taking appropriate advantage of medical services. The overall objectives are designed to help those with chronic illnesses understand how to better manage their health care needs, improve their outcomes and lessen the cost burden health-related expenses on the state.

Additionally, APS will provide wellness and prevention initiatives--such as a toll-free nurse support-line, education and assistance with coordination of medical care--to the entire north region's ABD membership.

"What makes APS Disease Management model so attractive is its emphasis on integrated care and behavior change methods," said Mark Trail, director of Georgia's Division of Medical Assistance, "as well as its ability to address the needs of Medicaid recipients along the entire health care continuum: from those that are healthiest, to clients at-risk for developing chronic illness, to those who experience acute illness and who may be admitted to a hospital, and finally to those clients who are very ill and in need of continued supports."

The program office will be located in Atlanta and will include an APS staff of over 50 associates and several contracted positions. APS has partnered with the National Center for Primary Care at the Morehouse School of Medicine, which will provide medical consultation and data analysis, as well as outcomes research and consultation; the Georgia Health Policy Center for external evaluation; First Medical Network for provider network liaison services; Artemetrx for pharmacy consultation; and a large number of leading federally qualified primary care centers and other community organizations who will gain additional health coaching resources through their work in partnership with APS.

APS provides services to 21 states across the US and federal payors, such as Medicare and the Department of Defense, offering a wide variety of physical, utilization management, behavioral, quality improvement, mental retardation, prison health and other services. For more information on the Georgia Disease Management contract or APS Healthcare, please contact David Hunsaker, President, APS Public Programs at (800) 305-3720 or dhunsaker@apshealthcare.com.

APS Healthcare is a provider of specialty healthcare solutions that cover more than 20 million members in the United States and Puerto Rico. APS' dedicated Public Sector Division, APS Public Programs, serves approximately 30% of the nation's Medicaid population through more than 30 programs across 21 States. The company's portfolio of products encompasses the full range of healthcare services, including disease management programs, behavioral and medical management, employee assistance programs, work/life services, absence management, physical medicine and informatics consultation. APS' Commercial Division serves more than 900 clients, including corporate and public sector employers and health plans. All of APS' programs combine the company's core competencies in behavioral, disease and medical management into a holistic patient-centric approach, which improves clinical outcomes and creates a superior return on investment for customers. APS is committed to "Helping People Lead Healthier Lives(SM)" through the implementation of customized programs that meet each customer's unique needs.

Source: Business Wire

More News in this Category