Alere launches pilot program with Arizona benefits company for members with diabetes

Alere Medical, Inc., a disease management company, announced implementation of a new pilot program with Health Net of Arizona Inc. to help its members with diabetes enjoy better health.

Health Net of Arizona will use the new program with 300 of its Medicare Advantage health plan members with diabetes. These members also have significant risk of developing other serious health difficulties.

Alere's diabetes program was developed in partnership with Joslin Diabetes Center.

The program consists of ongoing patient monitoring, education and telephonic coaching in coordination with patients' primary care physicians. Joslin is an innovator in the use of selfmanagement education to improve measures of care and reduce the acute and chronic complications of diabetes. The program focuses on helping patients understand their healthcare needs and correctly follow the treatment plan of their doctors, which is key to improving their health.

The 1-year, pilot program connects patients with a healthcare team via biometric and telephonic monitoring and physician reporting. Alere's clinical services include diabetes interventions, medication adherence and education that empowers patients to improve their health. The clinical interventions are supported by Joslin's clinical practice guidelines and promote a collaborative relationship between the physician and patient.

In addition to diabetes, the programs will also focus on improving the health of people with coronary artery disease (CAD), a known concurrent risk for people with diabetes.

Alere Medical has received NCQA Patient Oriented Full Accreditation for its Heart Failure Disease Management Program, Patient and Physician Oriented Full Accreditation for its Asthma and COPD Programs powered by National Jewish Research Center (2004-2007), and is also ranked #61 on the Inc. 500 list of America's fastest-growing private companies (2005).