Renaissance Physician Organization and Intercede Health Partnership Reduces Inpatient Utilization for HealthSpring Patients with Complex, Chronic Conditions

Innovative outpatient clinic model provides benefits for patients, doctors, and plan

HOUSTON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Renaissance Physician Organization (RPO) and Intercede Health (IH) today presented financial outcomes of a six-year partnership focused on improving outcomes for HealthSpring Medicare Advantage patients with multiple chronic and complex conditions. HealthSpring patients receiving care through one of Intercede Health’s specialty High-Risk Medical Home clinics in Houston had more than a 25% reduction in total medical costs, mostly achieved through the reduced need for inpatient and emergency room care. The clinics work closely with RPO care managers, medical directors, and primary care physicians for patient participation and care coordination.

“Our patients are the patients who ‘fail’ in a standard primary care office, simply because the current medical home model is set up to take care of patients who are generally well, not complex patients who are generally sick.”

The Intercede Health High-Risk Medical Home model focuses on the small percentage of patients (typically 3-5% of a Medicare or Medicaid population) with multiple chronic, complex medical conditions. “These are the patients who need extra help to stabilize their conditions and stay out of the hospital,” explains Dr. Joseph Jordan, Intercede Health’s Chief Medical Officer. “Our patients are the patients who ‘fail’ in a standard primary care office, simply because the current medical home model is set up to take care of patients who are generally well, not complex patients who are generally sick.”

The High-Risk Medical Home provides patients with the extra help and attention they need to properly address complex and chronic conditions. Visits often last an hour or more and are administered by an experienced physician (Extensivist) and care team. Many patients transition back to their primary care physician once they are stabilized, while others may make the specialty clinic their permanent medical home.

Renaissance Physician Organization has found that in addition to providing patients with additional benefits and aiding in reducing unnecessary care costs, the High-Risk Medical Homes support their primary care base. “Intercede Health was able to accept one of my patients with multiple problems including cardiac, diabetes, thyroid and orthopedic conditions and, over the course of eight months, bring her firmly under control. They sent the patient back to my care and gave me direction on how to keep her well controlled. She has remained in control since then and is very satisfied--a real success story,” commented Dr. Clare Hawkins, Family Practice provider in RPO.

About Renaissance Physician Organization

Renaissance Physician Organization, founded in 2000 as a doctor-owned and operated Independent Physicians Association (IPA), consists of Primary Care and Specialist Physicians located throughout Houston and Southeast Texas. RPO is committed to leading the health care industry through a forward thinking approach to coordinated care with an emphasis on quality and efficient medical delivery. Since inception, RPO has been dedicated to providing coordinated, preventive care that maximizes cost efficiencies while delivering the best possible patient outcomes for its patients. Learn more at http://www.myrpo.com.

About Intercede Health

Intercede Health is a national medical management company working with health plans, hospitals, and physician groups to improve the quality, efficiency, and safety of patient care delivery. Intercede Health introduced the Extensivist concept and coined the term in 1997 and continues to expand on its High-Risk Medical Home Model. In addition to clinics, Intercede Health delivers a full suite of progressive care management services including hospitalist and intensivist programs, physician advisor services, and total medical management for at-risk populations and ACOs. Learn more at www.intercedehealth.com.

About HealthSpring

HealthSpring, a Cigna company, is one of the country's leading health plans focused on delivering care to the senior population, predominately through Medicare Advantage and other Medicare and Medicaid products. Along with its companies Bravo Health and Leon Medical Centers Health Plans, HealthSpring serves more than one million customers in locations across the country. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, HealthSpring operates health plans in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. HealthSpring also offers a national stand-alone prescription drug plan. For more information, visit www.healthspring.com.