Report: ACAP Safety Net Health Plans are creating innovative solutions to chronic conditions. WASHINGTON - A new report from the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) highlights the innovative initiatives of its Safety Net Health Plans (SNHP) to address their patients' chronic conditions. It also offers a suite of policy recommendations to facilitate more effective management of chronic conditions among health plans. An estimated 60 percent of Americans live with at least one chronic disease, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, or obesity. Four in 10 live with two or more such conditions. Chronic conditions account for 90 percent of the country's $4.9 trillion annual spend on health care. The prevalence of chronic conditions is particularly elevated among populations with low incomes. Among non-elderly Medicaid enrollees, 3 in 4 have at least one chronic condition. This means that ACAP-member SNHPs, which serve more than 30 million people through Medicaid, Medicare and the Health Insurance Marketplace, disproportionately care for people at greater risk of being afflicted by chronic diseases. As a result, ACAP-member plans have piloted programs that combine medical care with robust disease prevention and social support. These strategies - integrated care coordination, proactive disease management programs, data-driven quality improvement, and addressing health-related social needs - have produced numerous novel approaches from plans. "For so many of our plans' members, chronic conditions can consume their day-to-day lives," ACAP CEO Margaret A. Murray said. "However, by raising the standard of care with these innovative programs, our hope is to improve health outcomes, reduce avoidable health care spending, and return to our members a sense of control over their lives and their health." * Texas-based Community First Health Plans created an initiative aimed at helping patients living with diabetes who are at high risk of developing diabetic foot ulcers. * Health Plan of San Joaquin/Mountain Valley Health Plan of California introduced a community-based, in-person educational series on hypertension. * Gold Coast Health Plan partnered with Conejo Health, a community-based organization skilled at enhanced care management, to improve Ventura County Medical Center's follow-up after emergency department visits for substance use or mental illness. * Banner University Health Plans started offering personal educational support to Arizona families with one or more children identified as overweight to combat childhood obesity, which can lead to a higher risk for diabetes and heart disease. * Illinois-based CountyCare launched a lead poisoning awareness campaign, providing Medicaid families with educational resources and vouchers for free Brita pitchers. * Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island developed a maternal meal delivery benefit, providing members who just went through childbirth with up to 28 home-delivered meals. * Chorus Community Health Plans addressed food insecurity and diabetes within the Milwaukee metro area by partnering with telehealth nutrition solution company Foodsmart while also providing medically-tailored meals as an in lieu of services benefit to qualified members. The report also details several policy recommendations to facilitate care for chronic conditions, including facilitating initiatives to support health-related social needs, addressing the looming provider shortage, improving continuity of coverage and care, and promoting fiscal sustainability through transparent rate-setting. Read the full report at www.communityplans.net. ABOUT ACAP ACAP represents 83 health plans, which collectively provide health coverage to more than 30 million people. Safety Net Health Plans serve their members through Medicaid, Medicare, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Marketplace and other publicly-sponsored health programs. For more information, visit communityplans.net.

CAMARILLO - Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) (on July 21) announced the appointment of Dr. James Cruz as its new chief medical officer (CMO), effective immediately.