UnitedHealthcare introduces predictive analytics for better care
UnitedHealth Group business UnitedHealthcare has introduced the use of predictive analytics to identify people who are most likely to require care and connect them to no-cost or at least low-cost community resources.
The use of predictive analytics is currently for those who are in the company’s Advocate4Me Elite and Advocate4Me Premier benefit plans.
The utilization of predictive analytics builds on similar, current initiatives for the business‘s Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
“The new advocacy capability uses de-identified claims data from UnitedHealthcare members to proactively identify who is most likely to need support with social determinants of health, such as access to nutritious food or affordable housing,” says a company press release. “UnitedHealthcare call center advocates then use real-time interactions coupled with a curated database of community resources to help individuals dealing with challenging life events or circumstances.”
Employers that have selected the two product offerings of the company can predict the possibility of their employees requiring social intervention. UnitedHealthcare’s capability will help the employers by analyzing more than 100 metrics and assessing over 300 markets across the United States.
A study published by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the US‘ largest philanthropy focused solely on health, suggests that several social barriers affect an individual’s health up to 80%.
UnitedHealthcare chief consumer officer Rebecca Madsen said that her company “is in a unique position to help improve people’s health and well-being by addressing social determinants of health.”
She added, “With COVID-19 highlighting the need to help close the gap between health care and access to services that contribute to well-being, UnitedHealthcare has incorporated social determinants of health into our advocacy service model, providing people with important support as they navigate the health system.”
The call center staff of the company are trained to listen for certain words, like “I am stressed,” “I am hungry,” or “I am having difficulty making ends meet.” After listening these and/or other such words, the staff will connect the person to low-cost community resources if free ones are not available/possible.
UnitedHealthcare will be helping the people get assistance for utility bills, child care rent/mortgage; find access to nutritious food like via local food banks; locate support groups, including for mentoring and continuing education; and get smartphone or internet access like via financial subsidies offered by telecommunication companies.
