UnitedHealthcare and Optum launch virtual-first health plan design
The new health plan opens up the possibility for eligible UHC members to receive various types of care, the companies say.
Photo: Al David Sacks/Getty Images
Major insurer UnitedHealthcare has unveiled a new virtual-first health plan dubbed NavigateNOW, developed in conjunction with sister company Optum, which promises a more integrated approach to both virtual and in-person care.
The new health plan opens up the possibility for eligible UHC members to receive various types of care, including wellness, routine, chronic-condition management, urgent and behavioral health services.
Starting this year for select employers in nine markets, NavigateNOW will provide people with a medical plan with about 15% less premium cost than traditional benefit plans, said UHC.
The nine markets include: Little Rock, Arkansas; Fort Myers, Florida; Pittsburgh; Springfield, Massachusetts; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; Richmond, Virginia; Indianapolis; Dallas; and Houston.
People in the NavigateNOW plan will receive 24/7 access to a personalized Optum care team for primary, urgent and behavioral healthcare services, backed by a national network of care professionals.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT?
Enrolled members in NavigateNOW will be able to complete a health profile to indicate personal preferences, current medications and existing health conditions. Based on the assessment, each member will be matched with a personalized care team, which may include a board-certified physician and other care providers who will work together to deliver primary, urgent and behavioral healthcare.
The care team, said UHC, will be led by a dedicated primary care provider who will virtually deliver care, and then connect the individual to in-person Optum providers and other health professionals when necessary. The model is designed to identify health issues earlier and promote the use of preventive care.
For instance, during virtual primary care appointments, Optum providers will have the ability to connect the UnitedHealthcare member with behavioral health services within the virtual platform as needed. This, said UHC, will ostensibly help facilitate additional virtual or in-person behavioral health appointments, including therapy, medication management and additional care coordination with other health services.
The offering is supported by Optum's new virtual care platform and virtual medical group. The proprietary platform, UHC said, enables UnitedHealthcare members to schedule appointments online and provides multiple ways for them to communicate with their care team, such as live chat and video visits.
If after a virtual visit a member needs additional health services, such as for a procedure or an X-ray, the care team can use the platform's navigation tools to help connect the individual to a care provider in UnitedHealthcare's network, including more than 1,600 facilities in Optum's national ambulatory provider network.
THE LARGER TREND
NavigateNOW is the latest of several UnitedHealthcare virtual care offerings supported by the Optum virtual care platform and other national telehealth providers.
As of this spring, Optum Virtual Care was available in all 50 states, with executives from both UnitedHealth and Optum saying the software aims to integrate physical care, telehealth, home care and behavioral care.
ON THE RECORD
"By collaborating with Optum, UnitedHealthcare is developing a more integrated and coordinated healthcare system that uses technology and personal support to help encourage whole-person health, which may help prevent and detect disease before it starts," said Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer of UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual.
"UnitedHealthcare and Optum will continue working together to modernize our approach to health benefits and care delivery, using technology and data to help make it more convenient for our members to access various types of medical care to support their physical and mental well-being."
"Patients want more options for getting care that is convenient for them and their lives," said Kristi Henderson, Optum senior vice president for digital transformation, and CEO of Optum Virtual Care, which includes Optum's national virtual-first medical group.
"Our work with UnitedHealthcare is designed to help make it simpler for patients and members to interact with their care providers by bringing together our digital resources and national clinical footprint to provide a more seamless, connected experience."
Twitter: @JELagasse
Email the writer: jeff.lagasse@himssmedia.com
