Study Shows Predictive Method Used By DST Health Solutions To Be Superior In Identifying Patient Care Coordination

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Dec. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- DST Health Solutions, LLC (DSTHS), a leading provider of technology solutions and services to health plans, integrated delivery systems, and health care providers, today reported that the Johns Hopkins ACG® System, as used in CareAnalyzer®,  has been deemed the most accurate method for predicting healthcare utilization by the American Journal of Managed Care.

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DST Health Solutions is the exclusive distributor of the Johns Hopkins Adjusted Clinical Groups (ACG) System in the United States.

The study, published in The American Journal of Managed Care (2013; 19(9): 725-732), utilized logistic regression models to compare six of the most common risk-adjustment methods.  The methods were applied to track the accuracy of predicting utilization in the form of hospitalizations, Emergency Department visits, 30-day readmissions, and high-cost users for primary care patients 18 years or older at the Mayo Clinic during 2009 to 2010. Results confirmed that ACGs provide greater accuracy in population health risk analysis.

"We use the ACG system as the foundation of disease classification throughout the organization," said Bob Gladden, Vice President of Decision Support and Informatics for CareSource.  "However, the real value with the ACG System is using its various predictive markers to assist with the selection of members who have a need for high risk case management.  We have done a number of studies on our almost one million Medicaid members and have found excellent predictive value with ACGs."

"We integrated the Johns Hopkins ACG System into our CareAnalyzer product because we believed it to be superior to other methodologies," says Teri Mullaney, Chief Strategy Officer for DST Health Solutions. "This study confirms our belief that CareAnalyzer provides one of the most comprehensive predictive modeling and risk analysis tools available, given that it assists with the resolution of care gaps and coordination, which is essential to both member health outcomes and the financial wellbeing of health plans."

As part of the DST Analytic Suite, the Johns Hopkins ACG System has been integrated into CareAnalyzer, seamlessly combining predictive modeling, risk adjustment, regulatory reporting, and provider network evaluation. The combination enables CareAnalyzer to provide care managers access to risk-stratified data that can be effectively applied to target high-risk members for early intervention and improve the overall coordination of care. 

DST Health Solutions will be producing a webinar — "Predictive Modeling – More Important than Ever to Health Plan Success" — on January 22, 2014 at 1:00 PM ET.  For more information on the event, including webinar registration, go to www.pages01.net/dstsystems/PMWebinar.

The complete DST Analytics Suite includes tools for the identification of retrospective risk adjustment, population health risk and stratification (RiskAnalyzer™), appropriate use and administration of medical drugs (Medical Drug Management Service™), network adequacy, consumer targeting, benefit design, medical loss management, and improved operational efficiency (Health Plan Optimizer). 

About DST Health Solutions
DST Health Solutions, LLC delivers contemporary healthcare technology and service solutions that enable its clients to thrive in a complex, rapidly evolving healthcare market. Supporting commercial, individual, and government-sponsored health plans, health insurance marketplaces, and healthcare providers, DST Health Solutions services and solutions include enterprise payer platforms, population health management analytics, care management, and business process outsourcing solutions, each designed to assist a company manage the processes, information, and products that directly impact quality outcomes. DST Health Solutions is a wholly-owned subsidiary of DST Systems, Inc. For more information, call 800.272.4799, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.dsthealthsolutions.com.

SOURCE DST Health Solutions, LLC