Working with Insurance Companies...
Last Friday, Mickey and Pat, our cessation center coordinators, met with Independent Health
medical director, Thomas J. Foels, MD, and director of wellness, Elaine Michlin. The meeting
was held so Mickey and Pat could find out what health insurance companies are providing as
far tobacco cessation benefits are concerned, how we can partner at any level with them, and
to begin a dialogue about how health insurance companies can give an incentive to physicians
to ensure that they are at a minimum asking, assessing and advising patients who use
tobacco.
A program is currently being employed by health insurance companies where doctors are
given an incentive to make sure that patients are given screening for diabetes, colorectal
screening, high blood pressure, etc. These screenings have proven effective, especially in the
reduction of colon cancer. Their data shows that incidences of colon cancer have dropped by
4.5 percent per year over the last three years. Since tobacco cessation is arguably the most
cost effective measure and can have the most dramatic affect on the overall health of patients,
we are trying to develop a similar program that would be adopted by health insurance
companies statewide. This program would complement the cessation center’s performance
improvement program for providers. Mickey and Pat are making arrangements to hold similar
meetings with Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Univera representatives.
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Meetings in Albany
Cathi, Josh and I met with NYS EMS program agency representatives from all around the state
on Tuesday in Albany. We were shown a presentation on the breakdown of prehospital care
report (PCR) data from 2005. This data showed the trends of ambulance/emergency service
calls from the entire state, excluding New York City, and individual information from each
region and some data from each county. This information will help us to evaluate the services
in our region and compare ourselves to other regions around the state. We also were
reminded of the procedures for managing PCRs and the responsibilities of each program
agency in regards to PCRs. The meeting gave us the chance to update health department
staff and the other agencies on what we are doing in our region.
Following the program agency meeting, we participated in a special meeting with the health
department, the Wyoming-Erie program agency and the Big Lakes program agency. This was
held to discuss our working together with and sharing the Western Regional Emergency
Medical Advisory Committee (WREMAC) for the Western New York region. We all agreed that
our working together will not be a problem and we suggested that the Regional Emergency
Medical Services Council (REMSCO) chairpersons meet and discuss the division of services
for the WREMAC.
Cathi and Josh also attended the New York State Emergency Medical Advisory Committee
(SEMAC) meeting on Wednesday and the New York State Emergency Medical Services
Council (SEMSCO) meeting on Thursday. Topics discussed at these meetings included EMS
education and training and the evaluation of quality assurance/quality improvement.
Last Friday, Mickey and Pat, our cessation center coordinators, met with Independent Health
medical director, Thomas J. Foels, MD, and director of wellness, Elaine Michlin. The meeting
was held so Mickey and Pat could find out what health insurance companies are providing as
far tobacco cessation benefits are concerned, how we can partner at any level with them, and
to begin a dialogue about how health insurance companies can give an incentive to physicians
to ensure that they are at a minimum asking, assessing and advising patients who use
tobacco.
A program is currently being employed by health insurance companies where doctors are
given an incentive to make sure that patients are given screening for diabetes, colorectal
screening, high blood pressure, etc. These screenings have proven effective, especially in the
reduction of colon cancer. Their data shows that incidences of colon cancer have dropped by
4.5 percent per year over the last three years. Since tobacco cessation is arguably the most
cost effective measure and can have the most dramatic affect on the overall health of patients,
we are trying to develop a similar program that would be adopted by health insurance
companies statewide. This program would complement the cessation center’s performance
improvement program for providers. Mickey and Pat are making arrangements to hold similar
meetings with Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Univera representatives.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meetings in Albany
Cathi, Josh and I met with NYS EMS program agency representatives from all around the state
on Tuesday in Albany. We were shown a presentation on the breakdown of prehospital care
report (PCR) data from 2005. This data showed the trends of ambulance/emergency service
calls from the entire state, excluding New York City, and individual information from each
region and some data from each county. This information will help us to evaluate the services
in our region and compare ourselves to other regions around the state. We also were
reminded of the procedures for managing PCRs and the responsibilities of each program
agency in regards to PCRs. The meeting gave us the chance to update health department
staff and the other agencies on what we are doing in our region.
Following the program agency meeting, we participated in a special meeting with the health
department, the Wyoming-Erie program agency and the Big Lakes program agency. This was
held to discuss our working together with and sharing the Western Regional Emergency
Medical Advisory Committee (WREMAC) for the Western New York region. We all agreed that
our working together will not be a problem and we suggested that the Regional Emergency
Medical Services Council (REMSCO) chairpersons meet and discuss the division of services
for the WREMAC.
Cathi and Josh also attended the New York State Emergency Medical Advisory Committee
(SEMAC) meeting on Wednesday and the New York State Emergency Medical Services
Council (SEMSCO) meeting on Thursday. Topics discussed at these meetings included EMS
education and training and the evaluation of quality assurance/quality improvement.
CEO Update January 25th
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