CHF Program Study Shows Improved Outcomes

A recent study by Humana's Center for Health Metrics shows that Humana's Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) program is producing positive results, both in improved outcomes for members and improved use of health benefits.

Provided by CorSolutions, the CHF program is a disease management program for members who are New York Heart Association Class III and IV patients. "The program provides education to the members about necessary lifestyle changes (i.e., lipid-lowering diet, medications, identification of early warning signs, coping with stress, smoking cessation and more) and how to better manage their condition," said Sally Scott, senior manager of disease management operations. "It's not to replace their physician visits; it's to supplement them by providing members with information to maintain compliance with the treatment plan the physician has them on."

The CHF program consists of a number of intervention, monitoring and educational components, including:

• home visits by a home health nurse to assess the patient's status, including compliance with medications and diet;
• continuing telephone support with a CorSolutions nurse;
• biometric devices that can transmit medical data via a telephone line to CorSolutions. (These devices are currently available from CorSolutions in some markets and are planned to be rolled out in the remaining areas.);
• access to CorSolutions' Web site, which provides health risk assessments, case management support and links to other information and resources.

A recent study suggests the program leads to improved outcomes, such as:

• 90 percent of participants show stabilized or improved disease status,
• 55 percent show reduction in emergency care visits,
• 62 percent show reduction in hospital admissions for all diagnoses associated with CHF,
• 69 percent show reduction in hospital stays,
• 56 percent show decrease in the number of patients admitted to the hospital at least once a month and
• 97 percent report member satisfaction.

For more information about the CHF program, contact CorSolutions at 1-800-343-6311.