SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 6, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matrix Medical Network, a national leader in prospective health assessment services for Medicare Advantage (MA) plan members, has expanded its industry leading health assessment service with the addition of In-Home Screening. The new solution leverages the company's national network of more than 500 employee Nurse Practitioners (NPs), who complete health assessments in MA plan members' homes, to collect and evaluate blood and urine samples and conduct colorectal cancer screenings. The Matrix In-Home Screening solution helps MA plans improve member health, close quality gaps, and boost their Star ratings.
Through the Matrix in-home health assessment, MA plans receive information about their members' health, social, environment and medication risks that enables them to improve quality of care, access to care, overall health care cost as well as member satisfaction. Now, by coupling the Matrix assessment with In-Home Screening, MA plans can improve targeted and impactful Star rating measures. This end-to-end solution identifies and schedules members for home assessments; administers FDA-approved blood, urine and colorectal cancer screening tests; processes the samples in a CLIA-regulated laboratory; and reports results to the member, primary care physician and the health plan to promote discussion and collaboration on personalized care management plans.
"Matrix Nurse Practitioners are now able to deliver clinical services to Medicare Advantage members beyond a comprehensive health assessment during the same home visit," said Matrix Chief Medical Officer Zach Gerbarg, MD, CPC. "This expanded clinical reach allows Nurse Practitioners to educate Medicare Advantage members about the importance of specific health tests and to help administer them in the comfort of the members' homes, which increases member participation and leads to early detection and management of health conditions. Almost 30 percent of the Medicare Advantage members we see have mobility issues. Conducting these tests at home, makes it easier for members to complete them and satisfies the more stringent NCQA requirements, which no longer accept member-administered labs."
Matrix uses its dedicated Care Center clinicians and coding team to review and communicate test results. The codes and additional data captured from In-Home Screening empowers MA plans to see and act on new strategic opportunities for accelerated improvements to their Star rating and ongoing care management programs, ultimately positioning them for success in the future.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Five-Star Quality Rating System ranks the performance and quality of MA plans. The ratings MA plans receive significantly impact their Stars bonus payments, their ability to be recognized as a high-quality plan, and their enrollment options.
To learn more about how to accelerate Star measures, read Five Steps to Accelerating Star Measures.
About Matrix Medical Network
Matrix Medical Network is headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., and provides prospective health assessment services that help medical plan clients manage costs and provide high-quality care. Matrix is owned by Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, a leading private equity investment firm. For more information, visit www.MatrixForMe.com.