Individualized Outreach Successful as TPA Helps Employers Contain Chronic Kidney Disease Costs
Appleton, WI (PRWEB) February 02, 2016 -- In an effort to reduce the costs of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and improve related health outcomes on behalf of its employer-clients, Cypress Benefit Administrators has partnered with Renalogic.
This collaboration has led to a thorough analysis of at-risk members (following strict privacy guidelines) and resulted in six customized CKD management plans as well as $275,000+ in savings in 18 months.
According to Tom Doney, Cypress president and CEO, the overall program focuses on outreach, education and intervention efforts among the member population that is either at risk for developing CKD or already dealing with renal care/dialysis needs. “It is estimated that one in nine people in the U.S. is suffering from CKD,” he said. “We see this as a growing issue among our members and the population in general, and chose to take steps to be proactive about it.”
The partnership between the third party administrator (TPA) and Renalogic focuses on early intervention with a goal of delaying or avoiding the progression of dialysis. Member care is HIPAA-compliant and follows evidence-based standards from the National Kidney Foundation. It is also coordinated among a member’s network of providers with an emphasis on managing any existing co-morbidities.
The number of members in each of the six individual CKD plans Cypress has in place ranges from 35 to upwards of 415, and engagement rates are as high as 89%. The goals vary by plan, with everything from initial education and testing to one-on-one strategies for stabilizing or improving renal function.
“The fact that the plans are targeted to different member groups has been very effective as the type of CKD engagement and support can be better tailored by audience,” Doney said.
The $275,000+ in health plan savings reported July 2014 through December 2015 averages out to more than $15,000 in avoided costs/soft dollar savings per month. It includes an avoided hospital admission for emergency catheter placement as well as a reduction in dialysis, ER visits and medication costs. The savings are also a result of an added focus on increased exercise and smoking cessation.
“We’ve also seen some pretty significant results when evaluating individual case studies,” Doney said. “One member has been able to avoid dialysis through nurse intervention. This has led to improved renal function for the participant and saved the plan more than $540,000 to date.”
A privately held company headquartered in Appleton, Wis., Cypress Benefit Administrators has been pioneering the way toward cost containment in self-funded health benefits since 2000. The third party administrator (TPA) is the country’s first to bring claims administration, consumer driven health plans and proven cost control measures together into one package for companies ranging from 50 employees to thousands of employees. It serves employer-clients across the U.S. with additional locations in Portland and Salem, Ore., Omaha, Neb. and Denver, Col. For more information on Cypress and its customized employee benefits, visit http://www.cypressbenefit.com.
Dave Willems, Willems Marketing & Events, +1 920.750.5013, [email protected]
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