Nearly 18 months into our partnership with Wellpoint (formerly known as UniCare) — and more than halfway through the enrollment period of a clinical trial study that seeks to prove its benefits — new data suggest Ibis Health is making significant headway in keeping program members out of the hospital and healthier at home.
Featured in the Mass Retirees Voice, October 2024
“When we first encouraged our Medicare members to participate in Ibis, we were confident that it would help to reduce healthcare costs. This data bears that out.” Shawn Duhamel, CEO, Mass Retirees.
The analysis of acute care utilization data shows that after joining the program, Ibis Health members experienced 10 percent fewer emergency room visits, a 30 percent fewer hospital admissions, 50 percent fewer days spent in hospitals and 55 percent fewer repeat admissions after they were discharged. Evidence also suggests that our members’ chronic conditions progressed more slowly than those who chose not to participate in the program.
The data included 719 Wellpoint members who have been supported by Ibis Health since March 2023, when the program was first offered as a fully covered Wellpoint supplemental health plan benefit. These members represent roughly 64,215 patient days on the Ibis Health program and 46,617 interactions with Ibis Health’s clinical care team.
Association CEO Shawn Duhamel commented, “When we first encouraged our Medicare members to participate in Ibis, we were confident that it would help to reduce healthcare costs. This data bears that out.”
“We continue to see high engagement rates among Wellpoint beneficiaries that suggest that yes, this is working and yes, this program is of interest to the Wellpoint population,” said Brenton Stoddart, director of Ibis Programs for Senscio Systems. “We continue to be grateful for Wellpoint’s efforts to advance health equity in the form of better access to care, and this preliminary data demonstrates that Ibis Health is keeping people out of the hospital, helping them to feel healthier at home and lower health care costs in the process.”
Wellpoint and Mass Retirees member Stu Skerker joined Ibis Health more than a year ago. As a retired systems analyst, the 68-year-old Attleboro resident sees value in tracking his vitals to help stay on top of several chronic conditions, including asthma and a history of stomach issues. Each day, he tracks his blood pressure, weight, pulse and medications through the Ibis Platform, which allows him to see trends over time and then report that data back to his primary care provider and gastroenterologist.
“It’s been helpful for my doctors, helping them to manage doses of my medications. When blood pressure is up, we can adjust blood pressure medication. When swell-ing in the legs is up, things like that, we can manage Lasix,” Skerker said. “Knowing that I have to weigh myself every morning, take my blood pressure every morning and my pulse — that’s a big thing. Ibis has been a big benefit, making me pause to see what’s going on, so that I know that if there is anything weird happening, I know immediately to pick up the phone and call somebody or to send an email.” And if something does go awry, Skerker said the Ibis Health clin-ical care team is quick to pick up the phone and call him to see if he needs further support. “I check in with a member advocate at least once a month, and that’s very helpful,” he said. “Everybody stays on top of things. … It’s been terri!c and I feel lucky about it.” The ongoing support allows Skerker to continue engaging in the activities he enjoys, including contributing articles as a part-time police and !re beat reporter for The Sun Chronicle in Attleboro. “I think it’s a big plus for anybody to give it a try.”” While Ibis Health remains a fully covered Wellpoint bene!t, the program is available to all Massachusetts retirees with Medicare Part B cover-age who qualify.
For more information about Ibis Health, visit ibishealth.org or call 888-626-9995
