AltaPointe Health Systems Leverages MCG Solutions to Make Behavioral Health Management More Efficient and Meet Mental Health Parity Requirements
SEATTLE, Nov. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- AltaPointe Health Systems has implemented Behavioral Health Care guidelines and interactive solutions from MCG (part of the Hearst Health network) to provide guidance to the AltaPointe utilization review staff. Through transparent assessment of the latest research and scholarly articles, MCG solutions help AltaPointe verify the most effective level of care for each patient, monitor that care over the patient lifecycle, and identify care variances at the clinician level.
"AltaPointe Health Systems offers a full continuum of care, which allows us to effectively treat our patients in the least restrictive, clinically appropriate setting therefore reducing overutilization of services," said Milton Burke, AltaPointe Chief Quality Officer. "MCG solutions help solve this challenge by enabling us to determine whether patients meet the criteria for the different levels of care within our organization. Through the use of MCG care guidelines we are also better able to monitor the consumer's care over the time, noting variances in order to evaluate the practice of our clinicians."
The capabilities provided by MCG solutions are particularly beneficial for AltaPointe because the organization is a healthcare provider and an authorizing entity for Medicaid. Behavioral Health Care guidelines help AltaPointe make behavioral health management more efficient and to streamline the process for meeting mental health parity requirements. AltaPointe can also more easily manage psychological, behavioral and pharmacologic therapies.
"As we prepare to comply with the Alabama Medicaid Managed Model that formally goes into effect in October 2016, MCG care guidelines will help us ensure that we meet the standards of this program for conducting utilization reviews," Burke added.
MCG care guidelines also play a critical role given that AltaPointe provides care to many patients who receive services on a no-pay basis for extended timeframes. To operate profitably while still providing the necessary level of care, AltaPointe must proactively identify the point at which patients meet the criteria to transition their level of care – such as moving from in-patient care at the hospital to an intermediate behavioral health care facility or at-home care.
Jon Shreve, president of MCG, added, "By determining the ideal setting in which each patient receives care, AltaPointe enables patients to live their lives as normally as possible in a safe, healthy way. We value the opportunity to partner with AltaPointe in helping them move patients toward health."
About MCG
MCG, part of the Hearst Health network, independently develops care guidelines and interactive solutions that help healthcare organizations implement informed care strategies for the majority of Americans. Updated annually, MCG's transparent assessment of the latest research and scholarly articles, along with our own data analysis, gives providers and health plans the vetted information they need to feel confident in every care decision, in every moment. For more information, visit mcg.com.
About Hearst Health
MCG is part of the Hearst Health network, which also includes FDB (First Databank), Zynx Health, Homecare Homebase, and Hearst Health International. The mission of the Hearst Health network is to help guide the most important care moments by delivering vital information into the hands of everyone who touches a person's health journey. Each year in the U.S., care guidance from the Hearst Health network reaches 84 percent of discharged patients, 174 million insured individuals, 35 million home health visits, and 4 billion prescriptions. Extensions of the Hearst Health network include Hearst Health Ventures and the Hearst Health Innovation Lab. www.hearsthealth.com
About AltaPointe Health Systems
AltaPointe is Alabama's most comprehensive behavioral healthcare provider with nearly 1,400 clinical and non-clinical staff members who provide treatment to more than 22,000 children, adolescents and adults annually in Mobile, Baldwin and Washington counties. AltaPointe provides more than 50 programs and services all committed to enhancing quality of life for everyone it serves. The organization was established in 1957.
Media Contact
Bryan Vaughn
Product Marketing Manager, MCG
Tel +1 206 389 5442
[email protected]
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SOURCE MCG
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