One Care, a program developed to control costs and improve healthcare for Massachusetts' residents, has endured huge financial losses, according to the Boston Globe.
Here are seven notes:
1. The three insurance companies invested in the program lost a combined $54 million in 18 months. Commonwealth Care Alliance lost approximately $40 million with Fallon Health Worcester losing about $13 million. Tufts Health Plan of Watertown lost around $1 million.
2. Insurers and state officials claim it is too early to detect whether the program is enhancing the health of its members.
3. The results of One Care reflect the difficulties of reducing spending for individuals struggling with poverty and complicated health problems.
4. Massachusetts' taxpayers will have to cover a large portion of the program's financial losses.
5. One Care coordinates services for 100,000 disabled and poor adults under 65 who are covered by Medicare and Medicaid.
6. One Care aims to reduce costs and enhance care by placing patients into a single, integrated health plan with a coordinator to help them better understand the services. The program has dental, vision and mental health benefits.
7. Executives at Commonwealth Care Alliance and Tufts advocate for higher reimbursements for One Care to help revive the program.
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