For Immediate Release
Silver Spring, Maryland
May 31, 2006
APS Healthcare Awarded State of Missouri Chronic Care Improvement and Internet Health Information Technology Systems Contracts for Medicaid Beneficiaries
APS Healthcare to deploy the first state Internet plan of care and unique community-based care management model
APS Healthcare, one of the country’s leading specialty healthcare companies, today announced that it has been selected by the state of Missouri, Department of Social Services, Division of Medical Services to administer a statewide chronic care improvement program (CCIP) and Internet-based plan of care health information technology (HIT) system for the state’s Medicaid program.
The CCIP is an enhanced primary care case management program that incorporates the principles of disease management, care coordination and case management to serve patients identified through a risk assessment and disease stratification model. APS will implement its community-based care management model, which places health coaches and nurse care managers in community health centers and provider locations throughout the state. APS uses a decentralized, collaborative care model to improve Medicaid beneficiary and provider engagement in care management programs, increase compliance with recommended care plans and improve coordination.
APS will also deploy an Internet-based plan of care, APS CareConnection® for health and care management, in tandem with the chronic care program. Missouri is the first state in the nation to use the care management tool in conjunction with an Internet-based plan of care health information technology to help coordinate care for Medicaid beneficiaries. The Internet-based plan of care enables all participants - patients, providers and health coaches - to work more effectively together using a collaborative medical record.
"We are looking forward to our partnership with APS and utilizing its innovative community-based care management program," said Q. Michael Ditmore, M.D., director of the Missouri Division of Medical Services. "APS will be instrumental in helping our Medicaid beneficiaries better manage their chronic diseases and improve their overall health."
"We are proud to announce that Missouri has joined seven other states in selecting APS health and disease management services," said David Hunsaker, president, APS Public Programs. "We are very excited to partner with the state of Missouri to assist chronically ill Medicaid beneficiaries and, with their providers and natural supports, to facilitate their achievement of better outcomes."
Both the chronic care program and the Internet-based plan of care will be administered out of APS’ Missouri service center.
APS Public Programs, a division of APS Healthcare, is one of the country’s leaders in providing services to Medicaid programs and currently serves clients representing more than 30 percent of the nation’s Medicaid population. In addition to health and disease management programming, APS provides Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)-de signated quality improvement organization (QIO) services, external quality review organization (EQRO) services, behavioral and other community-based programs in 20 states.
About APS
APS Healthcare, headquartered in Silver Spring, Md., is a leading provider of specialty healthcare solutions that cover more than 20 million members in the United States and Puerto Rico. APS offers customized, integrated healthcare solutions across two major healthcare product lines – care management and behavioral health services. APS operates under the belief that managing healthcare for the mind and body improves overall health and reduces total healthcare spending.
For more information, contact:
Sarah Clark-Lynn
Manager, Corporate Communications
APS Healthcare
800-305-3720, ext. 3266
sclynn@apshealthcare.com
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