Business
Mass. Blues plan reports heart savings
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Feb. 9, 2004
BlueCross BlueShield of Massachusetts reported its new care management program for heart failure patients saved an average of $400 per patient per month in 2003.
That translates into an 18% savings in its HMO Blue population and a 21% savings in its Blue Care 65 population, the insurer said. More than 4,500 members are enrolled in the program.
The program, called Cardiac Healthways, offers education and more intensive management services, such as home-monitoring and specialty counseling, to heart failure patients. The savings the program achieves is mostly through reduced inpatient admissions, the insurer said.
The health failure program is one of several disease management programs offered by the insurer. Others include diabetes, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/02/09/bibf0209.htm.
