NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Safety Net Connect (SNC), a leading provider of innovative web-based care coordination solutions, is pleased to announce that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) have approved payment by Medicaid to federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in Connecticut for electronic consultations (eConsults) with medical specialists. SNC’s proprietary eConsult platform is utilized by Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC) to provide increased access to expert care for the state’s medically underserved population.
Daren Anderson, MD, Director of Weitzman Institute, and Vice President, Chief Quality Officer of CHC of Connecticut has been instrumental in working with the Department of Social Services to obtain reimbursement status for the eConsult program. “Garnering Medicaid reimbursement approval for healthcare initiatives is a complex process,” explains Anderson. “Eligible programs must demonstrate solid proof of efficacy, cost savings, and ongoing value; we were able to meet these objectives through the positive outcomes of a year-long pilot that utilized SNC’s eConsult technology to enhance specialty care within our CHC health centers.”
With limited specialty providers available to treat Medicaid patients, appointment wait times can be as long as a year, leading to healthcare disparities, higher rates of disability, and complications in chronic diseases. SNC’s eConsult system has been proven to increase access to timely, cost-effective specialty services for underinsured and underserved patients, many of whom live in rural areas with limited access to specialty care. CHC has used SNC’s eConsult technology to facilitate over 1000 eConsults between primary care physicians (PCPs) and specialists at FQHCs across Connecticut, in fields such as cardiology, dermatology, and endocrinology – demonstrating an ability to provide specialty advice for patients through the PCP office in less than one day on average, with 89 percent of specialty needs resolved within the medical home. As of January 2016, CHC has begun contracting with state and federal agencies, as well as private insurers, to provide the SNC eConsult system to medically underserved patients across the U.S.
“What an honor for CMS to recognize SNC’s eConsult technology as a valuable tool for enhanced specialty care within Medicaid populations,” says Chris Cruttenden, President of SNC. “Together with CHC, the Weitzman Institute, and health care providers across the nation, we are excited to leverage our innovative telehealth technology as a cost-effective means for breaking down the barriers of inequity and disparity – offering better health for all, regardless of geographic location or socio-economic status.”
How SNC eConsult Works. When a patient has a concern that may need specialty attention, PCPs can use the eConsult portal to securely submit questions and relevant patient information such as chart notes and lab results – a specialist will review the information and provide specific advice, often in less than two business days. This eliminates wait times and travel for those who do not require a face-to-face, keeps more patients in their medical home, and reserves specialty appointments for pre-qualified individuals.
About Community Health Center
Since 1972, Community Health Center, Inc. has been one of the leading healthcare providers in the state of Connecticut, building a world-class primary health care system committed to caring for uninsured and underserved populations. CHC is focused on improving health outcomes for its more than 130,000 patients as well as building healthy communities. Recognized as both a Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance and a Primary Care Medical Home by The Joint Commission, CHC delivers service in more than 200 locations statewide, offering primary care in medical, dental and behavioral health services. For more information, visit www.chc1.com
About The Weitzman Institute
The Weitzman Institute is the research and innovation arm of Community Health Center, Inc., dedicated to inspiring primary care innovation and improving health outcomes for the medically underserved. With its expertise in quality improvement, the Weitzman Institute is partnering with organizations around the globe to transform the primary care delivery system through research, training and education. For more information, visit http://www.weitzmaninstitute.org.
About Safety Net Connect
Since 2009, Safety Net Connect (SNC) has partnered with public and private organizations to provide a multitude of successful and nationally recognized web-based healthcare solutions for underserved and safety net populations. SNC’s innovative solutions have reached over 5 million patients from clients such as Los Angeles Department of Health Services (LADHS), MedPoint, LA Care, Orange County Healthcare Agency, CalOptima, San Diego Healthcare Agency, and Cook County MHN (an Illinois Medicaid Project). For more information, please visit www.safetynetconnect.com
