Survey: Managed Care Programs Accessed by HMOs

To ensure that our services match the needs of our clients, we conducted a survey shortly after forming Summit ReSources. The purpose of the survey was to determine our clients’ survey chartsatisfaction with the managed care vendors they had been accessing prior to the formation of Summit ReSources.  We also wanted feedback as to what types of managed care vendors would be most beneficial. Many of our clients were also contacted by phone or in person to determine what types of managed care programs they currently have in place. All clients have some form of utilization management, consisting of preauthorization for admissions and certain other services, and concurrent review of inpatient admissions.

Disease management programs are primarily internally developed and  focus on the diseases most prevalent within the particular health plan. The sophistication of the programs varies, as well as the degree of outcome reporting. Few health plans have a specific end stage renal disease program, which may be needed in the future.

Almost all clients have contracts with pharmacy benefit managers, which may include reduced pricing for high-cost specialty pharmaceuticals, or they have contracts with separate companies for those drugs. The contracts provide discounts off of the average wholesale prices of the drugs. Some companies also include supplies and home nursing (when medically indicated) as a part of the contracts.

The majority of Summit Re clients  access United Resource Networks (URN) for transplant services and are satisfied with the services provided.

Approximately 25% of our clients have contracted with a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) management vendor.

About half have some form of out-of-network repricing. Price negotiations are done internally for some health plans or contracted out to a national PPO/repricing vendor.

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Did you know?

  • URN access fees for transplant services may be submitted as a reinsurance claim expense if the member reaches the reinsurance deductible.
  • NICU management fees for programs accessed through Summit ReSources are eligible claim expenses if the member reaches the reinsurance deductible.

Summit ReSources: Make It Your Managed Care Resource

Summit Re established its own managed care department, Summit ReSources, to give you  access to a comprehensive portfolio of services, specifically designed to reduce costs while improving quality of care. The primary goal of Summit ReSources is to be your managed care resource. Consultative Case Management

We are available for consultative case management which includes, but is not limited to, assessment and recommendations regarding utilization, disease and case management programs, access to external managed care vendors at preferred prices, catastrophic case discussions, specialty pharmacy issues and out of area solutions. There is no additional cost for accessing our consultative case management service.

Educational Resources

Summit ReSources has access to a variety of educational opportunities and information about medical management. As information becomes available, we share it with you.

Portfolio

A portfolio of services has been negotiated to help you manage your claims. They include:

Transplant Management

National PPO Network

Non-network Claims Managementmanaged care

Catastrophic Injury/Illness

Recovery/Coordination of Benefits

Neonatal Intensive Care Management

Predictive Modeling

Chronic Disease Management

Summit ReSources was created in September of 2004.  Debbie Stubbs is the primary contact and Laura Pearce is Debbie’s backup for managed care issues.  You will find more information about Summit ReSources on our website at www.summit-re.com/managedcare.asp.