Health Risk Stratification: Targeted Tools and Methodologies to Prevent Illness and Improve Health

To deflect the cost of chronic care, the scope of healthcare has broadened to embrace prevention. Using a variety of tools and methodologies, more healthcare organizations are striving to pinpoint that population poised for or in the midst of a health crisis and then attempting to slow or prevent complications. This special report, Health Risk Stratification: Targeted Tools and Methodologies to Prevent Illness and Improve Health, profiles the efforts of two organizations who have successfully identified high-risk members and patients and aligned appropriate interventions. In separate case studies, Health Risk Stratification: Targeted Tools and Methodologies to Prevent Illness and Improve Health chronicles the paths of two healthcare organizations seeking to identify health risk factors in their respective populations and develop policies and outreach to put these individuals on the road to better health. With a special focus on the challenges of connecting with Medicaid enrollees, this 38-page special report highlights the essential role of the health risk assessment (HRA) tool in pinpointing the health status of employees and health plan members. This 40-page report is based on contributions from Thomas Ferraro, business development director with Mayo Clinic Health Management Resources, and Penelope Kokkinides, national vice president of disease management with AmeriChoice, a United Healthcare Company, who presented at a HIN audio conference in August 2006.