Cedars-Sinai and CareMore Health Plan to Deliver “Coordinated” Care for Medicare Patients

Health System and Health Plan Team Up to Keep Medicare
Beneficiaries Healthy and out of the Hospital

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Los Angeles-area Medicare beneficiaries have a new option to better
manage their medical care and improve their health under an agreement
between Cedars-Sinai and CareMore Health Plan.

The new agreement pairs Cedars-Sinai physicians and health care teams
from CareMore, one of California’s highest-rated Medicare Advantage
plans that works to keep patients healthy and out of the hospital by
coordinating the care they receive from various medical professionals.

More than 60 primary care doctors and nearly 130 specialists from
Cedars-Sinai Medical Group and Cedars-Sinai Health Associates will work
with CareMore to identify and treat the medical, mental and social needs
of Medicare patients in the program. The organizations plan to expand
the panel of participating specialists over time. Medicare Advantage
plans are offered by private companies that contract with Medicare to
provide managed care for seniors 65 and older as well as persons with
disabilities.

“This strategic alliance will expand access to comprehensive care of the
highest quality to Medicare beneficiaries in the Los Angeles area,” said
Tom Gordon, chief executive officer of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Network.
“We are pleased to collaborate with CareMore to provide this enhanced
level of care to patients who need to keep a close eye on their health.”

As part of the agreement, CareMore will open a new Comprehensive Care
Center, a one-stop location near Cedars-Sinai staffed by its own
physicians, nurse practitioners, case managers and other medical
professionals. The center will feature programs to help patients manage
chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and other medical
conditions. Nutritional counseling, strength training and other services
will be offered.

In addition, CareMore teams of clinicians and social workers will make
house calls to check on patients who are unable to travel to the local
center. During the visits, the teams will ensure that prescriptions are
filled and even arrange transportation to follow up care center
appointments when needed. Patients also can be monitored at home through
wireless scales and sensors.

“We look forward to this new alliance that will empower an era of highly
coordinated care for local Medicare recipients,” said Leeba Lessin,
president of CareMore Health Plan. “Cedars-Sinai is an innovative
academic medical center. Its dedication to improve the health of its
community is a commitment that is shared by the entire CareMore team.”

About Cedars-Sinai

Cedars-Sinai is a leader in providing high-quality healthcare
encompassing primary care, specialized medicine and research. Since
1902, Cedars-Sinai has evolved to meet the needs of one of the most
diverse regions in the nation, setting standards in quality and
innovative patient care, research, teaching and community service.
Today, Cedars-Sinai is known for its national leadership in transforming
healthcare for the benefit of patients. Cedars-Sinai impacts the future
of healthcare by developing new approaches to treatment and educating
tomorrow’s health professionals. Additionally, Cedars-Sinai demonstrates
a commitment to the community through programs that improve the health
of its most vulnerable residents.

About CareMore

CareMore, rated among the top two Medicare plans in California, has
invested in developing an extensive clinical infrastructure centered on
high-touch patient-care for Medicare beneficiaries and other
populations. Its model focuses on prevention and highly coordinated care
resulting in clinical outcomes above the national average. A subsidiary
of Anthem, CareMore serves more than 80,000 Medicare members throughout
Southern California, Northern California, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson,
Ariz., and Richmond, Va., under federally-approved Medicare Advantage
contracts. CareMore also is participating in a dual demonstration
project in parts of Los Angeles County in conjunction with state and
federal regulators to coordinate care for people eligible for both
Medicare and Medicaid.

Contacts

CareMore
Media Contact:
Doug Bennett Jr., (502) 889.2103
Doug.BennettJr@anthem.com