JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Specialty Disease Management Services Inc. announced today it has been selected by McKesson Health Solutions to provide community-based nurses for the state of Texas’ new disease management program for Medicaid beneficiaries with certain chronic illnesses. As part of the program, Specialty Disease Management Services will use the services of promotores(as) to help locate and serve disease management clients living in difficult-to-reach areas.
The Texas Medicaid Enhanced Care Program began offering services on November 4, 2004 to approximately 55,000 Texas Medicaid fee-for-service clients who meet certain eligibility requirements and suffer from the following chronic illnesses: heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease, asthma and diabetes.
Specialty Disease Management Services will provide a team of community- based registered nurses who live and work in the eastern, central, western and southern (Valley) regions of the state. The nurses will provide face-to-face assistance to high-risk clients and help ensure that they receive timely and proper medical care for their condition.
“An exciting part of this program is the involvement of promotores(as) - Spanish speaking, certified health care workers - to help in our efforts to assist Medicaid clients throughout the state,” said Frederic S. Goldstein, President and Founder of Specialty Disease Management Services. “These workers will assist our community-based registered nurses in finding clients, providing translation services when needed, assisting with basic education and referring clients to community services.”
Texas is the first state in the country to provide certification of Promotores(as)/Community Health Workers. “With so many Medicaid patients spread across the country, often in rural areas, we are thrilled to involve promotores(as) since they are familiar with and often live in neighborhoods where clients live and are trained to know how to facilitate access to health care and other community services,” said Goldstein.
The Texas Medicaid Enhanced Care Program is the latest program in which Specialty Disease Management Services is partnering with McKesson Health Solutions. Similar projects are underway in Mississippi, Montana, Washington, Colorado, and Oregon. The firm was recently selected to provide disease management services for a new Medicare program launched in Mississippi.
For more information about Specialty Disease Management Services Inc. please visit http://www.specialtydisease.com/.
Founded in 1997, Specialty Disease Management Services Inc. provides a unique community-based approach to disease management services. Based in Jacksonville, FL, the firm consistently demonstrates positive quality, cost, and satisfaction outcomes in the management of patients with complex chronic diseases. The company contracts with government and private payers of health services and operates in several states throughout the country.
Specialty Disease Management Services, Inc.
CONTACT: Ed Emerman, Eagle Public Relations, +1-609-452-5967,eemerman@eaglepr.com, for Specialty Disease Management Services
Web site: http://www.specialtydisease.com/