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Care Improvement Plus Launches First Health Plan for Chronically Ill Medicare Beneficiaries in Four States

Posted on: Monday, 16 October 2006, 12:01 CDT

BALTIMORE, Oct. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Approximately 1.3 million Medicare beneficiaries in Arkansas, Georgia, Missouri, South Carolina and Texas are eligible to join Care Improvement Plus, the first health plan in Ark., Ga., S.C., and Texas to focus exclusively on chronically ill Medicare beneficiaries and their unique healthcare needs.

Care Improvement Plus has obtained formal approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to offer a new type of Medicare Advantage "Special Needs" Plan that provides all Medicare covered services, a tailored Medicare Part D drug benefit, and disease management services to approximately 1.3 million Medicare beneficiaries in the five states with diabetes, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and/or end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The plan is currently available in eight Maryland counties for those with diabetes, heart failure and/or ESRD.

"This is the first time a plan like this has been offered to many of our country's seniors with chronic illnesses," said Harry Leider, chief medical officer for XLHealth, Care Improvement Plus' parent company. "While the concept of a health plan that provides a range of benefits and support services that targets specific illnesses is fairly new, we know that our program can improve quality of life and keep people independent and healthier longer. Not only can our services help seniors ward off avoidable and common complications of chronic illness, such as amputation, blindness, stroke and heart attack, but we also can help address the approaching Medicare fiscal crisis by reducing the need for expensive treatments and hospitalizations."

A recent government forecast (http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/TRSUM) attributes the approaching Medicare fiscal crisis to soaring healthcare costs, the approaching retirement of 78 million baby boomers, and their increasing demand for complex health services. In an effort to help improve care and rein in costs, the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 allows Medicare Advantage organizations to offer Special Needs Plans to three groups of Medicare beneficiaries: those with chronic illness, those residing in nursing homes, and low-income individuals who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. Care Improvement Plus was approved to offer a chronic illness Special Needs Plan to residents of Ark., Ga., Mo., S.C. and Texas, along with three additional counties in Southern Md.

Each plan member is assigned a Care Improvement Plus care team comprising a dedicated local healthcare manager, local field nurse and telephone coach nurse - all of whom work closely with the member's physicians to coordinate services and help provide optimal care. Members receive coverage that offers the flexibility of traditional Medicare, plus additional benefits, care coordination, and services as appropriate, such as:

* the ability to see any provider that accepts Medicare * $0 or no-cost premiums and co-pays * comprehensive prescription drug coverage under Medicare Part D - with a formulary specifically designed for people with diabetes and other chronic health conditions * expanded Medicare benefits, including more comprehensive podiatry visits * nursing support in person or by telephone * medication monitoring and counseling * medication and appointment reminders * education on symptoms and early warning signs of complications * tools to help monitor and manage health, such as diabetic protective shoes and/or blood pressure cuffs for those who qualify * free transportation services

Care Improvement Plus also supports participating physicians with a variety of services designed to help them care for chronically ill patients, such as: compensation for time spent on non-Medicare covered services, an open-access model that doesn't require referrals, collection of medical histories in advance of office visits, and easy-to-read reports containing all of each patient's up-to-date information.

To join, individuals must live in one of the five states, be eligible for Medicare, and have diabetes, heart failure, COPD and/or ESRD. Those interested in learning more about the plan can call 800-711-1656 to speak with a plan representative or visit the plan's Web site at http://www.careimprovementplus.com/.

About Care Improvement Plus

Care Improvement Plus, a new health plan that focuses on the unique healthcare needs of chronically ill Medicare beneficiaries, provides a Medicare Advantage health plan and disease management services to Medicare beneficiaries living with heart failure, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and/or end-stage renal disease. Care Improvement Plus also provides tailored Medicare Part D drug coverage, along with a variety of services designed to support physicians' efforts to care for their chronically ill patients. Care Improvement Plus has received Full Accreditation for its patient and practitioner disease management program from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). The plan is administered by Baltimore- based XLHealth, one of the nation's fastest growing disease management companies. More information about XLHealth and Care Improvement Plus can be found at http://www.careimprovementplus.com/.

Care Improvement Plus

CONTACT: Kristin Brunnworth for Care Improvement Plus, +1-410-962-6447,or klb@planitagency.com

Web Site: http://www.careimprovementplus.com/http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/TRSUM

Source: PRNewswire

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