Humana Medicare Advantage Members Benefit Once Again from Value-Based Reimbursement Models

LOUISVILLE, Ky.-- For the third year in a row, Humana’s Medicare Advantage program has leveraged the proven impact of its value-based reimbursement model to achieve better health, improved health care quality, and lower costs. Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) is the country’s second largest Medicare Advantage health plan provider based on membership.

For the calendar year 2015 results, Humana compared quality metrics and outcomes for approximately 1.2 million Medicare Advantage members who were affiliated with providers in value-based reimbursement model agreements to 170,000 members who were affiliated with providers under standard Medicare Advantage settings. Unlike value-based reimbursement model agreements, standard Medicare Advantage settings don’t have additional incentives for providers who meet quality or cost targets.

“Our integrated approach to partnering with providers enables us to improve the health care experience for consumers in multiple ways,” said Bruce D. Broussard, Humana’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We’re able to offer more affordable health plans, help people improve their health through comprehensive, holistic engagement with them, and also drive higher physician satisfaction.”

Health and Quality Improve

Last November, Humana announced results for its 2014 Medicare Advantage membership. Humana first disclosed 2013 resultsin December of 2014.

Neither the 2013 nor 2014 results can be considered a direct comparison to the 2015 results due to multiple demographic changes in member population. The 2015 results reflect Humana’s continued strength. Key findings from our 2015 results are as follows:

·         Providers in Value-Based Agreements with Humana Continue to Deliver Better Quality Care: Providers in Humana value-based reimbursement relationships had 19 percent higher Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) scores as compared to providers in standard Medicare Advantage settings based on an internal attribution method.

·         Members, on Average, Continue to Experience Healthier Outcomes: Humana Medicare Advantage members served by providers in value-based reimbursement model agreements experienced 6 percent fewer emergency room visits than members in standard Medicare Advantage settings. Screening rates were higher for the following: colorectal cancer screening (+8 percent); breast cancer screening (+6 percent); and osteoporosis management (+13 percent).

·         Humana Continues to Lower Costs Through Value-Based Reimbursement Model Agreements: By working differently with providers on quality and health initiatives, Humana experienced 20 percent lower costs in total in 2015 for members who were affiliated with providers in a value-based reimbursement model setting versus an estimation of original fee-for-service Medicare costs using CMS Limited Data Set Files. Medical cost reductions such as these can benefit plan members through reduced out-of-pocket costs, lower member premiums, and/or additional benefits.

Humana also achieved better management for older adults in vulnerable populations. For these members with special needs, assessment rates for pain screening and medication review were higher by five and ten percent, respectively.

Facing the Chronic Condition Challenge

One of the key challenges that Humana faces with its approximately 3.2 million Medicare Advantage member population is the prevalence of chronic conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke, account “for 86% of our nation’s health care costs” and, in 2012, “one of four adults had two or more chronic health conditions.”

Despite these chronic condition challenges, the 2015 Humana Medicare Advantage members, on average, improved their health and received better quality from physicians, clinicians and other providers in value-based agreements with the company.

Humana’s 2015 Medicare Advantage population health results are also in alignment with the Department of Health and Human Services’ goal of moving traditional, or fee-for-service, Medicare payments to quality or value within the next few years.

“Since many chronic conditions are the result of long-term behavioral decisions, it’s essential that health plans and physicians are in complete alignment,” said Roy A. Beveridge, MD, Humana’s Chief Medical Officer. “At Humana, we’re deeply focused on working with physicians and within communities to make it easier for people to achieve their best health. That means addressing the clinical and behavioral aspects of a person’s health. Our population health results clearly reflect this holistic approach.”

In a value-based model, Humana and providers are jointly accountable for health outcomes. Providers in value-based reimbursement agreements benefit from this holistic approach grounded in clinical and behavioral health. Dr. Griffin Myers, Oak Street Health, whose practice has recently transitioned to a value-based reimbursement model with Humana, has seen the opportunities firsthand about the impact of the model. “In a value-based environment, Oak Street Health is held accountable on how we can quantifiably improve health outcomes. A value-based agreement drives our physicians to develop patient relationships where the goal is helping a patient reach his or her full health potential.”

Humana Medicare Advantage

Humana’s value-based reimbursement model for its Medicare Advantage population is guided by the company’s integrated and coordinated health approach: a defined, measurable patient population and pay-for results based on improved clinical outcomes and reduced costs.

Humana has 1.8 million individual Medicare Advantage members and 200,000 non-Medicare commercial members today that are cared for by approximately 49,600 primary care physicians, in more than 900 value-based relationships across 43 states and Puerto Rico.

As of September 30, 2016, approximately 63 percent of Humana individual Medicare Advantage members are seeing providers who are in value-based payment relationships with Humana. Humana’s total Medicare Advantage membership is approximately 3.2 million members, which includes members affiliated with providers in value-based and standard Medicare Advantage settings.

For more information, visit humana.com/valuebasedcare.