Ochsner Health, headquartered in New Orleans, has unveiled insights from a trial initiative showcasing the positive impact of digital medicine paired with remote patient management on Medicaid beneficiaries.
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The findings indicated remarkable improvements among participants enrolled in the Ochsner Digital Medicine program. Within 90 days, almost half of the patients with uncontrolled hypertension achieved stabilization—an increase of 23% compared to conventional care. Moreover, the program demonstrated ongoing enhancements in control rates over its initial 18-month period. For individuals grappling with poorly managed diabetes, the program exhibited a noteworthy success rate—59% gained control over their condition, twice the rate observed in regular care.
Denise Basow, M.D., Ochsner’s inaugural chief digital officer, expressed pride in these unprecedented outcomes among Medicaid patients. She emphasized the potential for this program’s scalability to positively impact lives not only in Louisiana but also nationwide, aiming to alleviate the burden of chronic diseases.
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Louisiana grapples with substantial diabetes (14% of adults) and hypertension (40% of adults) rates. Recognizing the lag in Medicaid’s provision of crucial digital health programs, Ochsner Health initiated the pilot in June 2020 at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, enrolling over 4,400 patients to date. Dr. Lauren Beal, medical director of primary care and community clinics in Northwest Louisiana, highlighted the program’s ability to leverage home-based technologies for enhancing patient outcomes and experiences.
After a year, an independent actuarial firm confirmed scientifically significant health improvements among Medicaid patients enrolled in the program. Even those previously struggling with poor control witnessed positive outcomes within 90 days of program initiation.
Beyond improving health indicators, the digital medicine initiative garnered high patient satisfaction, reflected in a net promoter score of over 91 among Medicaid participants, aligning with the positive feedback from non-Medicaid patients benefiting from similar programs at Ochsner.
Dr. Richard Milani, the chief clinical transformation officer at Ochsner Health System, emphasized the combination of compassionate patient care and technological innovation, catering to over 30,000 patients in their digital medicine chronic disease programs.
With varying coverage for remote patient management, Ochsner Health aims to secure reimbursement from payers and employers to extend and formalize the Digital Medicine program across the U.S.