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Healthy Merits Disease Management

Healthy Merits Disease Management program helps employers manage plan members' chronic health conditions that have the potential for complications and high- dollar claims. The program achieves this by drilling down to the root cause of employers' soaring healthcare costs: plan members' unhealthy lifestyles and behaviors.

Patient Activation Measure (PAM)

Meritain Health's Patient Activation Measure (PAM) identifies plan members with chronic diseases, measures their ability to manage their conditions, and motivates them to progress to a level where their self-confidence and self-management abilities meet the highest benchmarks.

The Process

Member Orientation
New Meritain Health plan members receive a letter that provides an overview of the program.  

Candidate Identification
Disease management candidates are identified through on-site biometric screenings and online health risk assessments, predictive modeling based on medical and prescription claims data, and self-referral.

PAM Assessment
Candidates are contacted and given PAM assessments and based on their score, members receive disease-specific kits with information and equipment such as peak flow meters and glucometers.

Nurse Coaching
Participants are assigned Nurse Coaches, who help them set up equipment and ensure that they are ready to begin the program. Equipment readings and results can be electronically fed, eliminating the need for self-reporting.

The Nurse Coaches also:

• Help patients set incremental targets and goals.
• Motivate patients and elevate their self-confidence in managing chronic disease.
• Educate patients on warning signs and symptoms and what to do if they occur.
• Provide educational resources specific to the interaction and needs of patients.
• Identify ways for patients to stay healthy.

Measuring the Impact

The Disease Management program reduces absenteeism, increases productivity and produces sustained improvements in profit margins by reducing healthcare costs.



Learn more about the Healthy Merits program.