US Family Health Plan Reduces Need for Emergency Care and Hospitalization

The sponsoring organizations of the US Family Health Plan program, highly experienced providers of high quality health care in the Military Health System, have successfully reduced the need for care in two key and costly areas.

The US Family Health Plan is a TRICARE Prime option that focuses on keeping patients well by identifying disease risk early, taking the necessary interventions, and coordinating services through a primary care manager. This managed care approach ensures care is provided in the most clinically appropriate, least expensive, and safest setting.

“The managed care approach used by the US Family Health Plan gives patients the care they need when and where they need it so that they stay as healthy as possible. We do everything we can to optimize patient wellness and to achieve positive long term health outcomes,” said David Howes, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Martin’s Point Health Care, one of the six US Family Health Plans.

According to an independent actuarial analysis, when compared to the TRICARE Prime program as a whole, adult US Family Health Plan members under age 65 spent 33 percent less time in the hospital and visited the emergency room nearly 25 percent less often than other adult Prime members. Thus, US Family Health Plan members utilize inpatient and emergency care less frequently than other TRICARE Prime beneficiaries. Importantly, US Family Health Plan member patient satisfaction rates continue to be among the highest in the nation and among Department of Defense beneficiaries.

“The US Family Health Plan program continues to demonstrate that its innovations, high quality primary and specialty medical care, and attention to customer service add value to the Military Health System,” said Henry J. “Jim” Schweiter, chief executive officer of the US Family Health Plan Alliance. “It is a privilege for the Designated Providers of the US Family Health Plan to serve our uniformed services families. They have sacrificed a great deal for our country.”

About the US Family Health Plan:

An integral part of health care provided to uniformed services dependents and retirees since 1981, the US Family Health Plan program is part of the Military Health System, offering the TRICARE Prime benefit in 16 states and the District of Columbia. The US Family Health Plan was the first and remains the only true population health/managed care model in the Military Health System. The six fully accredited, community-based health care systems, known as designated providers, include Brighton Marine Health Center, Christus Health, Johns Hopkins Health Care, Martin’s Point Health Care, Pacific Medical Centers, and St. Vincent Catholic Medical Centers.