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Health Dialog Reaches One Year Milestone for Medicare Health Support Pilot Program in Western Pennsylvania

Posted on: Monday, 11 September 2006, 09:00 CDT

Health Dialog Services Corporation today announced it has reached the one year milestone for its Medicare Health Support pilot program in western Pennsylvania. The milestone, reached on August 15, 2006, marks the first of a three-year initiative aimed at more than 20,000 selected fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries living in the region. Through the pilot these individuals, who are living with one or more chronic conditions, gain access to Health Dialog's whole person Health Coaching services.

"The goal of this pilot is to dramatically improve the health status of targeted beneficiaries, resulting in tremendous gains on many levels." said George Bennett, Chairman and CEO of Health Dialog. "We are more than pleased with what we have seen in the first year and are confident this trend will prove even stronger as we continue our focus of strengthening patient-physician communication and improving beneficiaries' understanding of chronic conditions and treatment regimens."

"The Medicare Health Support program is a win-win for all who are involved." said Mark McClellan, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). "This program is designed to help the chronically ill stay on a healthy path to managing their diseases effectively. By providing them with regular one-on-one interactions with nurses, beneficiaries can prevent many ill effects that may result from not managing their health. This, in turn, saves on healthcare costs by keeping the chronically ill healthier and out of the hospitals." In the words of one beneficiary spouse, Peter Ivancik:

"Since the start of the program my wife's Health Coach has helped her understand and comply with her physician's plan better. Every little thing you do matters. Her Health Coach helps her know what she has to accomplish and if you have a goal to reach, you can reach it! It is excellent that Medicare offers this program."

The western Pennsylvania pilot is one of eight around the country being implemented under the auspices of Medicare Health Support, formerly referred to as the Voluntary Chronic Care Improvement Program (CCIP), which will evaluate the impact of various care management approaches. Health Dialog is pleased to have the support of leading physicians and physician organizations, such as The American College of Physicians, the American College of Cardiology, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and Drs. John Wennberg and Albert Mulley (founders of the Foundation for Informed Medical Decision Making), on the development of the western Pennsylvania pilot.

About Health Dialog:

Health Dialog is a leading provider of care management services, including disease management, and is one of the fastest growing privately held firms in the U.S. The firm helps the government, physician groups, health plans and self-insured employers improve healthcare quality while reducing overall costs. The firm's services include analytic services and telephonic and other care management support for individuals. Health Dialog helps individuals become more actively engaged in their healthcare and have more effective relationships with their physicians. For more information about Health Dialog please visit www.healthdialog.com.

About Medicare Health Support:

During 2005, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services implemented a series of three-year pilots in distinct geographic regions as part of the Medicare Health Support initiative. The Secretary of HHS may expand programs or program components that prove to be successful beginning two to three and a half years after the programs are implemented. Success includes improving quality and satisfaction and achieving savings targets.

Source: Business Wire

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