AHP Supports MassHealth in Protecting Patients at High Risk for COVID-19
Data warehouses, tracking dashboards and analytic training developed by Advocates for Human Potential, Inc., (AHP) with three MassHealth provider networks to increase their health information technology capabilities can now be used as a tool in the fight against COVID-19. The warehouses and associated tools are just being launched, and AHP is training providers on how to put them to greatest use.
While AHP had been building out these “big data” solutions for community partners (CPs) in projects originally designed to help with the ongoing shift toward accountable care in Massachusetts, they realized the data could have a more immediate impact: It would enable healthcare providers to easily and proactively identify and reach out to high-risk individuals as COVID-19 continued to spread across the state.
I think it’s great to have this information, because I don’t think up until this point we’ve had a good way to judge who is in this highest risk category. I mean we know some of what’s going on with our members and a diagnosis and we can kind of guess that, but it’s nice to have data to back it up.
Dana K. Borgia, Director of Long-term Services & Support Community Partner Program at Family Services Association (FSA)
The data warehouses contain aggregated and harmonized information from disparate sources such as insurance claims, case management systems, electronic medical records and outcomes management systems. Once everything comes together in a usable form, “that big data can tell a very big story,” said Patrick Gauthier, director of AHP Healthcare Solutions.
I can look at a mountain of data representing a population in a region of the state, and I can identify in that data who is over a certain high-risk age, and who is in a particularly high-risk chronic condition group, a sub-group of all that data. Now I can do some prevention. Now I can reach out to those people and say, ‘We need to make sure that you are sheltering in place, that you have everything you need. Maybe we’re going to see you a little bit more often on telehealth.
Patrick Gauthier, director of AHP Healthcare Solutions
AHP’s data projects are part of the Massachusetts Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) program, helping accountable care organizations (ACOs) and CPs in the state improve patient outcomes and quality of care while lowering costs.
This dashboard is a great tool that we will be able to use with our staff to help identify trends with members. For example, those high users that may need additional education and guidance to better utilize community services. This tool will also help identify trends for caseload management and performance measures.
Sharon Ford, FSA Chief Program Officer
These types of data applications are ripe for expansion, Gauthier said. “It’s definitely something that could be used more broadly going forward.”
About Us
Advocates for Human Potential, Inc. (AHP) creates powerful solutions to improve health and human services systems. By partnering with the federal government, states, municipalities, healthcare systems, and nonprofits, we help people experiencing the greatest disadvantages lead full and productive lives. We are national leaders in training and technical assistance, research and evaluation, publishing, and dedicated consulting. On issues from workforce development to mental health, substance use disorders to housing and homelessness, we help our clients enhance behavioral health care through systems change. AHP was founded nearly 40 years ago to develop solutions for some of the biggest social infrastructure challenges across the nation. Our company has offices in metro Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Find out more at www.ahpnet.com.
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