Unlimited complimentaryrides to the doctorand no–cost prescriptionmedication are among thevalue–added services providedto thousands of Greater SanAntonio area seniors throughHealthRight, WellMed’sDisease Managementprogram.
These efforts to remove thebarriers to quality preventivehealthcare are among the keyfactors that recently earnedWellMed the OutstandingQuality Initiative Award fromDMAA: The Care ContinuumAlliance.
The non–profit DMAA isone of the nation’s leadingadvocates for the promotion ofeffective disease management,chronic care and preventivehealthcare. The OutstandingQuality Initiative Award isone of five Population HealthImprovement LeadershipAwards handed out tohealthcare industry leadersnationwide for “outstandingachievements in andcontributions to the scienceand practice of chronic diseasecare.”
“The awardees we honortoday have distinguishedthemselves as leaders inpopulation–based approachesto preventing and managingchronic conditions,” DMAAPresident and CEO TraceyMoorhead said at the awardspresentation in Florida. “Theircontributions to the fightagainst chronic disease havemade a lasting difference in somany lives.”
WellMed is an industryleader in highly effectivedisease management, chroniccare programs and more. Thephysician–owned healthcareprovider specializes in seniorcare, operating more than 30medical clinics in Florida andTexas.
In recent years, WellMedhas invested significantly ingroundbreaking strategiesdesigned to remove theobstacles to effective diseasemanagement. For example,WellMed pays the co–payfor more than 80 types ofproven life–improving ordisease–managing prescriptionmedications for patients withchronic bronchitis, asthma oremphysema, diabetes and heartdisease.
WellMed also pays theco–pay for patients who needcertain medical devices, suchas friction–reducing diabeticshoes. WellMed even has ashoe fitter on staff who cancustomize the fit of thesedevices to the patient. Theright customized fit has beenproven to prevent ulcers thatcan lead to a higher likelihoodof surgery or amputationamong diabetics.
The result of these efforts,along with other systemicchanges in the DiseaseManagement program, hasbeen a dramatic reduction inhospitalizations and betterhealth outcomes, such asimproved cholesterol levelsand blood sugar levels, amongHealthRight enrollees.
“At WellMed, we will investmore than $3 million this yearalone to underwrite prescriptiondrug costs for seniors withchronic disease states becausewe have found it to be a provenstrategy for the delivery of qualitypreventive health care for seniors,”said WellMed Founder and CEOGeorge M. Rapier III, M.D. “Thatcommitment to effective, qualityhealth care is one of the reasonsWellMed serves 1 in 5 Medicareeligibleseniors in our community.”
These efforts resulted in adramatic upswing in prescriptionrefill rates, which went from 11.1percent in 2005 to better than 80percent in 2008 for HealthRightpatients, thanks to the removalof cost as a barrier to patientspicking up their medication.
HealthRight patients meet faceto–face regularly with a healthcoach, Primary Care Physicianand other members of theirwellness team. These meetingstake place at the clinic or, in somecases, at the patient’s home.
Rides to and from regularmedical appointments have beenunlimited and complimentary forHealthRight patients since 2004.
As a result, the rate for patientskeeping their scheduled medicalappointments has jumped from 75percent to more than 95 percenttoday.
In 2009, WellMed is expandingits complimentary transportationservice to include all patientsenrolled in a qualifying MedicareAdvantage plan.
“Lack of transportation can bea barrier that keeps seniors fromgetting to the doctor,” Dr. Rapiersaid. “It may be because they don’thave a dependable ride, or can’tafford the cost of gas, insuranceor maintenance. Whatever thereason, our patients are betterserved if they see their PrimaryCare Physician regularly, soWellMed is proudly expandingour complimentary transportationservices this year.”
Added Dr. Rapier: “Thisrecognition by DMAA reflectsvery well on our company’smission to help the sick becomewell, and to help patientsunderstand and control theirhealth in a lifelong effort atwellness.”
