Vanderbilt University Medical Center has created MyHealth Bundles, an innovative and value-based approach to managing some of the most common and costly health conditions.
MyHealth Bundles provide employers with more transparent, predictable pricing by prioritizing consistent care. The bundled payment model encourages care coordination and adds incentives for clinical departments to better manage a patient’s entire experience, reducing employers’ overall costs and building a concierge service experience.
As employers grapple with the economic hardships brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the redesigned care model answers the challenge with cost-saving health care benefits for their employees.
In addition to improved health outcomes, MyHealth Bundles simplifies employees’ access to caregivers and streamlines appointments — supported by a patient navigator to answer questions and provide guidiance. Enhanced patient education reinforces the personalized care experience, and the model’s built-in efficiencies often result in lower out-of-pocket payments.
“MyHealth Bundles offer a unique opportunity for employers to provide an unprecedented level of support for their employees during what can be vulnerable and stressful health care experiences,” said C.J. Stimson, MD, JD, medical director, VUMC Office of Episodes of Care and assistant professor of Urology. “Bundled payments throw out the traditional insurance payment rules that get in the way of patient-centered care. Without these restrictions, Vanderbilt Health providers are free to redesign the clinical and service experience in a way that is 100% focused on maximizing patient outcomes and satisfaction. VUMC’s bundled payment program makes it so much easier to deliver a better patient experience.”
The MyMaternityHealth Bundle is available now and combines maternity and select newborn services for the entire length of the pregnancy — from the initial prenatal care visit through delivery and 12 weeks postpartum.
VUMC has been piloting the MyMaternityHealth program with its own employees and families and certificated employees covered by the Metro Nashville Public Schools health plan. As of Sept. 3, 411 patients have enrolled in the program, and 65 patients have delivered their babies.
“All of our health plan decisions are about improving the health of our employees in order to improve the educational outcomes of our students, and we’ve proven that these two elements are closely related,” said David Hines, executive director of Benefits for MNPS. “The MyMaternityHealth program means we have healthier, happier babies and moms, and we’re reducing costs for our health plan at the same time.”
The potential savings from MyMaternityHealth is so significant that MNPS has been able to lower the health plan member’s co-payment to zero, saving employees at least $2,500 annually. The substantial savings coupled with the high-quality maternity experience are earning the MyMaternityHealth program high scores in MNPS employee satisfaction. Happier employees are making Hines’ job easier, he said.
“Vanderbilt Health is committed to working with employers to deliver exceptional care with predictable costs,” said C. Wright Pinson, MBA, MD, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Health System Officer for VUMC. “As one of Tennessee’s largest employers we understand the challenges of offering health care benefits to a diverse workforce. MyHealth Bundles complements our full suite of Employer Solutions, ensuring employees and families receive the best care and clinical expertise possible.”
To provide convenience and peace of mind, telehealth visits are available for any qualified MyMaternityHealth bundle patient. Prenatal telehealth services include a complimentary prenatal telehealth kit consisting of a blood pressure cuff/monitor, hand-held fetal doppler, the option of a scale and in-person instruction on how to use the kit. After the baby is born, patients also have access to tele-lactation consultation services, another exclusive benefit of MyMaternityHealth.
Additional bundles improve patient outcomes and lower costs will be rolled out. Scheduled to launch in January 2021 are the MyHearingHealth bundle for cochlear implant surgery, the MySpineHealth bundle for select spine surgery, the MyOrthoHealth bundles for hip and knee joint replacement, and the MyWeightLossHealth bundle for surgical weight loss.
Learn more at MyHealthBundlesForEmployers.com.
