LOUISVILLE, Ky., Dec. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Humana Inc. announced today that it has been selected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to develop one of the first pilot sites under the new Medicare Voluntary Chronic Care Improvement Program (CCIP) through a joint venture with Pfizer Health Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of the worldwide Pfizer pharmaceutical firm.
Operating as “Green Ribbon Health,” the pilot will unite Humana’s expertise in health-benefits innovation - including predictive modeling and its unique Personal Nurse program -- with Pfizer’s leadership in creating effective health solutions to improve the health and quality of life for Medicare beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions. The program will operate in a nine-county area that includes Tampa and Sarasota, Fla. The pilot includes about 20,000 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries who are suffering from diabetes and congestive heart failure as identified by CMS.
The CCIP was authorized as part of the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act. The pilots are expected to serve approximately 150,000 to 300,000 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries.
“We commend Congress and the administration for their foresight in establishing these innovative pilot programs, which offer help and hope to people who need it most,” said Michael B. McCallister, president and chief executive officer of Humana. “By having the courage to reform a 40-year-old entitlement program, the government is offering chronically ill seniors up-to- the-minute breakthroughs in technology, evidence-based medicine, behavior change models and community support networks, all designed to improve health outcomes and reduce cost inefficiency in the health care system as a whole.”
The three-year program leverages Pfizer Health Solutions’ innovative community-based care team model of nurses, doctors, community health workers, pharmacists and social workers who work in concert with patients, offering self-care guidance and decision support to improve their health. Patients will identify their health and environmental needs and work with providers to take action steps for health and quality of life improvement. Green Ribbon will present participating seniors with an array of health services to help them prevent complications and maintain their independence.
“We’re honored to have been selected for this important program,” said Jonathan T. Lord, M.D., Humana’s senior vice president and chief innovation officer. “We’re confident that the innovations we’ve developed for our commercial populations -- to find people who need help and to help them make their care decisions -- will improve the care, treatment and quality of life for chronically ill Medicare beneficiaries. As a 20-year participant in the Medicare program, Humana is committed to the improvement of health and quality of life for the nation’s elderly.”
Other program partners who will be working with Humana and Pfizer Health Solutions in Green Ribbon Health include the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, Tampa General Hospital, BayCare Health System and Florida’s Quality Improvement Organization, as well as many disease-specific community organizations and medical professional groups.
About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, is one of the nation’s largest publicly traded health benefits companies, with approximately 7 million medical members located primarily in 15 states and Puerto Rico. 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.
Over its 43-year history, Humana has consistently seized opportunities to meet changing customer needs. Today, the company is a leader in consumer engagement, providing guidance that leads to lower costs and a better health plan experience throughout its diversified customer portfolio.
More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at http://www.humana.com/ , including copies of:
- Annual report to stockholders; - Securities and Exchange Commission filings; - Most recent investor conference presentation; - Quarterly earnings press releases (including detailed description of unusual items, where applicable); - Audio archive of most recent earnings release conference call; - Calendar of events (includes upcoming earnings conference call dates, times, and access number, as well as planned interaction with institutional investors); - Corporate Governance Information. 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
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CONTACT: Tom Noland of Humana Corporate Communications, +1-502-580-3674,or tnoland@humana.com
Web site: http://www.humana.com/
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