Cigna, the Philadelphia-based health insurer with 12 million members, is starting a pilot program to reduce the number of hospital readmissions of its members, according to a release by Cigna.
The Care Transitions Program, using the Connecticut-based home healthcare company CareCentrix, is initially being offered in Texas during the next 12 months and will be extended to in 2011 to other states.
The program targets members at risk for readmission, including those with three or more admissions within 12 months and who have conditions such as congestive heart failure, pneumonia, total joint replacement, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or major bowel surgery.
The program will:
Read the Cigna release on readmissions.
Read more on readmissions.
One-Quarter of Hospital Patients Readmitted Within Two Years
More Than One-Third of California Inpatients Readmitted Within a Year
Following up on Heart-Failure Patients Reduces Readmission Rate
The Care Transitions Program, using the Connecticut-based home healthcare company CareCentrix, is initially being offered in Texas during the next 12 months and will be extended to in 2011 to other states.
The program targets members at risk for readmission, including those with three or more admissions within 12 months and who have conditions such as congestive heart failure, pneumonia, total joint replacement, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or major bowel surgery.
The program will:
- Identify a caregiver and involve that person in the patient’s care;
- Educate patients and their caregivers about the hospital discharge plan;
- Build awareness of the patient’s condition, symptoms and steps to take if the condition worsens;
- Help patients manage prescriptions and other medications; and
- Facilitate follow-up medical appointments.
Read the Cigna release on readmissions.
Read more on readmissions.
One-Quarter of Hospital Patients Readmitted Within Two Years
More Than One-Third of California Inpatients Readmitted Within a Year
Following up on Heart-Failure Patients Reduces Readmission Rate