TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Green Ribbon Health (GRH) today announced the appointment of Jean A. Bisio as chief executive officer (CEO). Ms. Bisio, formerly executive vice president of business development at Matria Healthcare, assumes leadership of Green Ribbon Health (GRH), a joint venture between Humana Inc. and Pfizer Health Solutions Inc. GRH will provide services to selected fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries under the new Medicare Health Support (MHS) pilot program awarded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
"I am excited to be leading the Medicare Health Support program in Florida through the services offered by Green Ribbon Health," Bisio said. "I look forward to providing services that support beneficiaries in their efforts to manage the very complex diseases of diabetes and congestive heart failure. We hope that providing patients with a personal nurse and a community-based education and support team will help beneficiaries to feel more confident in their ability to manage a seemingly overwhelming combination of needs."
On November 1, GRH will begin enrolling 20,000 eligible fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries with complex diabetes and/or congestive heart failure in nine Florida counties. The Medicare Health Support program will offer personal nurse teams and multi-disciplinary support services operating in four local centers in Tampa, Clearwater, Venice, and Fort Myers.
"We are thrilled that Jean has agreed to head GRH in launching the Medicare Health Support program in Florida," said Heidi Margulis, senior vice president of government relations at Humana. "This is an important initiative for Humana as well as CMS. Jean's leadership will ensure the smooth execution of GRH's novel and comprehensive approach to improving health and quality of life for chronically ill Medicare beneficiaries in Florida."
Services provided by Green Ribbon Health staff include access to personal nurses; social workers and community health workers; a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week nurse line; health education materials and classes; coordination with physicians; and referral to community services. All services will be available free of charge to eligible beneficiaries over the phone or in person, as needed.
"Jean's experience as a nurse caring for seniors, and as a successful health care executive in a leading disease management company make her the perfect choice to lead this company," said John Sory, vice president of Pfizer Health Solutions. "Jean believes in the principles of respectful, community-based, patient-centered care which are the core of the GRH initiative and key tenets of the health reform Pfizer has been supporting with programs around the world. We are pleased that Jean is joining us to lead this effort to offer services to people who will benefit from this additional health support."
About Medicare Health Support
The Medicare Health Support program was authorized under the Medicare Modernization Act (Section 721) and is focused on improving the health of chronically ill Medicare beneficiaries. For more information visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medicarereform/ccip.
About Green Ribbon Health
Green Ribbon Health was formed in 2005 by Humana Inc. and Pfizer Health Solutions Inc to provide services under the Medicare Health Support program. Initially, GRH will provide services to eligible fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries with complex diabetes and/or congestive heart failure living in nine Florida counties. The goal of the program is to improve beneficiaries' quality of life by providing health support services that help them maintain their independence and dignity, preserve their access to care, and respect their personal values and preferences. For more information visit www.greenribbonhealth.com.
About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is one of the nation's largest publicly traded health benefits companies, with approximately 7 million medical members. Humana offers a diversified portfolio of health insurance products and related services -- through traditional and consumer-choice plans -- to employer groups, government-sponsored plans, and individuals.
Humana is Florida's largest private Medicare provider with nearly 240,000 members statewide, including some 64,000 in the Tampa Bay area. To learn more, visit www.humana.com.
About Pfizer
Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures and markets leading prescription medicines for humans and animals, including many of the world's best-known consumer brands. Pfizer Health Solutions, the wholly-owned care management subsidiary of Pfizer, partners with healthcare and community organizations to implement patient-centered programs that focus on prevention, disease management and care coordination to improve patient health and more efficiently deliver care. To learn more, visit www.pfizerhealthsolutions.com.
Green Ribbon HealthCONTACT: Amy Delmore, Pfizer Health Solutions Inc, +1-212-733-0248; orMitch Lubitz, Humana Inc., +1-813-287-6180