Aetna Behavioral Health Introduces Industry-First Bipolar Disease Management Program
Posted on: Monday, 11 December 2006, 12:01 CST
Aetna (NYSE:AET) today launched an innovative disease management program to improve the care for members suffering from bipolar disorder, a disease that impacts two million adult Americans and costs U.S. employers an estimated $14.1 billion a year in lost productivity. Bipolar disorder carries a significant mortality risk, with an estimated 25 percent of people attempting suicide.
Aetna's new program, created in conjunction with Astra Zeneca, seeks to help Aetna members who suffer from bipolar disorder achieve their optimal health by giving them information and care management support. For those who sign up for the voluntary program, care managers will provide the support necessary to increase member adherence to a physician-prescribed treatment plan. By improving medication adherence and the care members receive after a hospitalization or other event, the Bipolar Disease Management program will help decrease relapses, increase quality of life, and reduce the overall health care costs associated with bipolar disorder.
"Studies about bipolar disorder show that it is the sixth leading cause of disability ahead of other long-term conditions such as HIV, diabetes and asthma," said Mary Fox, head of Aetna's Behavioral Health and Pharmacy Management businesses. "Research, as well as Aetna's own positive experience developing disease management programs for mental health conditions, spurred us to take a leadership position by developing a program that could have a significant impact on both our members and customers."
This Bipolar Disease Management Program will become part of Aetna's suite of disease management programs, which includes Aetna Health ConnectionsSM. Aetna's medical management products and services help members achieve and maintain their optimal health. Through these services, Aetna takes an innovative, personalized, holistic approach to supporting member health, providing useful information to help members make smarter decisions about their health and health care.
Initially, Aetna members enrolled in a fully insured HMO plan will have access to the Bipolar management program, with plans to expand the program further in 2007. Aetna members who fit the following criteria, are eligible for voluntary enrollment in the Bipolar Disease Management program:
At least 18 years of age or older;
Diagnosed with bipolar disorder;
Recently discharged or currently hospitalized for bipolar disorder.
Aetna members enrolled in the program are assigned a care manager who will partner with them to enhance disease and treatment awareness, facilitate coordination of care, and improve treatment adherence. Care managers will call members at least monthly, and may call more often depending on the level of severity of their disorder. Care managers also personally assist members with finding community-based resources that help people cope with the disorder, encourage family support for members and coordinate care between different health care providers. Program participants will receive educational mailings about bipolar disorder and treatment options. In addition, members have access to a customized website, providing 24 hour-a-day, 7 day-a-week educational information and resources for bipolar disorder.
Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 29.8 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life, and disability plans, and medical management capabilities. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans and government-sponsored plans. www.aetna.com
Source: Business Wire
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User Comments (6)
| 6. |
Posted by Nancy on 01/01/2007, 10:00 Having been diagnosed with bipolar disorder along with anxiety and panic disorder I take a lot of medication, and visit a psychiatrist often. Not only feeling an outcast in the community, I have felt an outcast as far as my INSURANCE benefits are concerned. Most medications do not have generics and deductible is usually $1,000 or more per year before I ever see any help. Maybe with more education that bipolar is not only a mental disorder but it leads to many physical disorders which then WOULD be covered as regular physical ailments. I only hope this becomes a NATIONAL BILL. |
| 5. |
Posted by Danielle Kinmark on 12/28/2006, 08:17 This was an eye-opening article. I was diagnosed with BPD five years ago. When my employer found out I was put under a micoscope and judged harshly on everything I said and did even if other employees did the same thing. Needless to say I was fired this past year. My employer said he thought BPD was not a real illness and that I was faking it and using it as an excuse for my conduct (which was not bad). I even provided him information on the disorder and he spoke with a therapist about the situation but apparently this did not help. How does one become an Aetna member? I spend over $4,000 a year in medications and have been unemployed for 1 year now. I can no longer afford my medications even though my husband is still working and has insurance. The insurance still charges $100+ for my medications and we can barely pay the bills let alone pay for my prescriptions. So, I am going through cycling rapidly and am afraid if I do get another job I will not be able to control by outbursts and be fired. |
| 4. |
Posted by Pat West on 12/22/2006, 21:32 Thank you for beginning support & education on this much misunderstood problem.The healthcare industry needs more insurers who will do the same. |
| 3. |
Posted by Patricia Ivie on 12/22/2006, 11:56 As an individual covered by Aetna insurance I am grateful to see this innovation and response to a great need. possibly the most difficult of the disorders to treat due to its variabliity, BPD is devistating. My Grandchild has pediatric BPD. |
| 2. |
Posted by John Jones on 12/12/2006, 18:05 It is great to see Aetna taking this initiative, but many expensive hospitalizations for bipolar disease could be avoided if insurance companies provided comprehensive outpatient coverage. Despite being caused by a physical condition -- a chemical imbalance in the brain -- bipolar is considered a mental health condition so benefits are typically very limited compared to conditions classed as. My bipolar son uses up his outpatient allocation for psychiatrist and therapist visits about half way through the year, requiring us to pay out of pocket to allow him to keep up with his recommended treatment plan. If he suffered from diabetes, caused by another chemical imbalance in the body, his coverage would be almost unlimited. |
| 1. |
Posted by Susan Barr on 12/11/2006, 22:25 I am so thankful that an insurance company is realizing the benefit of a management care program for those of us who are in recovery everyday with the chemical imbalance brain disorder known as bipolar disorder. It can be a fatal disorder, to those of us who have this embalance, if not monitored, managed, with medications, exercise, psychotherapy, medical (psych med visits), nutrition, sleep, and hopefully support from family and friends. Therefore, thank you it is important because this is such a uneducated desease for most people that I hope this will raise more education. Thank you Aetna for being the fore runner with this program. I wish I could get your insurance. |
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