Chronic Condition Management Program has new remote monitoring services vendor

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s Chronic Condition Management Program will be using a new vendor — AMC Health — for remote monitoring services for our Medicare Advantage PPO members, beginning July 1, 2016.

AMC Health’s TeleCare Management program will provide remote monitoring services to qualifying Medicare Advantage PPO members who’ve been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic heart failure and diabetes.

The contract with our current vendor, Alere, ends June 30, 2016. Alere delivered a chronic condition management program by phone, as well as remote monitoring services to members diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease or diabetes. The chronic condition management program provided by Alere will transition to Blue Cross’ Chronic Condition Management Program. This program is available for Medicare Advantage PPO members with CHF, COPD, CAD and diabetes effective May 1, 2016.

AMC Health’s remote monitoring program is similar to Alere’s program, but has some key distinctions and enhancements compared to Alere’s remote monitoring intervention.

The new vendor’s benefits include:

• COPD intervention, including monitoring of controller adherence and frequency of rescue inhaler use
• Blood pressure monitoring for patients with CHF and diabetes patients

AMC Health won’t be monitoring patients with coronary artery disease at this time.

Did you know?... Patients with chronic conditions often suffer from depression. In fact, more than 80 percent of patients with depression have a medical comorbidity, according to the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement. That’s why depression screening and considering a referral to a behavioral health specialist are two approaches often taken by primary care physicians to improve a patient’s overall care.