Eliza Corporation and Independent Health Increase Preventive Screening Rates for Medicare Members

DANVERS, Mass. and BUFFALO, N.Y., April 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Eliza Corporation ("Eliza"), the pioneer and recognized leader in health engagement management, and Independent Health, a leader and innovator in the healthcare market, announced today an increase in the measures that drive STAR ratings.  The increase comes as a result of a health engagement campaign branded 'Staying Healthy.' The 'Staying Healthy' campaign integrated best practices and proprietary business intelligence insights from Eliza's STAR Year-in-the-Life solution – delivered through Eliza's integrated and multi-modal platform.  This population-based preventive health outreach engaged Medicare members to uncover barriers and motivations and drive behavior change.  Measures impacted include glaucoma, LDL cholesterol, colorectal cancer and breast cancer screening rates. 

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"Eliza's unique approach to engaging members in conversations about their health has helped us expand our outreach capability," said Cindy Wittwer, Director, Clinical Quality, Independent Health.  "The program gave members the opportunity to learn more about recommended screenings and allowed us to identify what drives – or discourages – our members from having their recommended screenings. We're seeing some great results. One of our members contacted his primary care physician following an Eliza contact about preventive screenings and subsequently learned he needed further treatment after having a colonoscopy. The member later contacted us to let us know and tell us he is now cancer free. What a great success story for our health engagement campaign!"

The 'Staying Healthy' campaign was initiated by Independent Health to inform Medicare members of important preventive services for which they're eligible, offer educational information, and drive the outcomes that influence Medicare Star HEDIS-based measures.  In addition, Eliza's follow-up analysis and business intelligence helped determine which messages resonated best for key populations – delivering valuable insights for increasing overall awareness and inspiring healthy behavior. 

"It's an honor to support Independent Health's efforts to improve the health of their members, and we're thrilled to see the impact on health outcomes.  In today's new world, increases in double-digit gap-in-care closure-rates don't just result in healthier individuals, they also result in potential bonus payments for our clients under the Medicare STAR guidelines," said Alexandra Drane, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer at Eliza. "These programs work because they resonate with real people living real lives, since they're based on real-world insights from over 800 million interactions, and built around our Interaction Design best practices and unique business intelligence. Now, more than ever, members are put in the driver's seat when it comes to making decisions about their coverage, and we believe that every touch – including around preventive health – should do its part to provide a positive member experience that not only impacts behavior, but builds brand loyalty over the long term."

Click here for more information about Eliza's comprehensive Year-in-the-Life STAR solution or email [email protected].

About Independent Health
Headquartered in Buffalo, Independent Health began operations in 1980 and has consistently been rated among the top health plans in the country for customer service and member satisfaction. Independent Health's comprehensive portfolio of product and service offerings include HMO, POS, PPO and EPO products, Medicare and Medicaid plans, traditional indemnity insurance, consumer-directed plans, coverage for self-funded employers, plus health savings account (HSA) and pharmacy benefit management (PBM) services. Combined, the company provides health benefits and services to nearly 375,000 individuals in Western New York and throughout the country. For more information, visit Independent Health's website at www.independenthealth.com.

About Eliza Corporation
Eliza Corporation ("Eliza") is devoted to making people happier, healthier, and more productive. The pioneer and recognized leader in Health Engagement Management, Eliza draws from more than 800 million interactions with people about their health and blends business intelligence, technology, and communication expertise to improve care experiences, reduce costs and advance population health. Each program is powered by Eliza's engagement-based analytics and population segmentation, and delivered via our patented speech recognition technology, rich web and multi-modal delivery platform (including automated calls, emails, text messages, mail, social and mobile interactions). These programs consistently yield the best outcomes in the industry in terms of increased engagement, health and wellness measures, and sustainable ROI. Eliza was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Danvers, Massachusetts. For more information, please visit www.elizacorp.com.

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SOURCE Eliza Corporation