Leading well-being enhancement company
Healthways
(
HWAY
) and Wellmont Health System recently revealed that their joint
efforts in (population) health management resulted in the choice
of Wellmont Integrated Network Accountable Care Organization
(ACO) in the Medicare Shared Savings Program.
The two organizations will provide resources to set up the
ACO. For its part, Healthways will furnish offerings that will
help measure the health condition of over 10,000 Medicare
fee-for-service enrollees to be served by the ACO using the set
up of the Wellmont Health System. The partnership between the two
parties is intended to shape health care delivery in south-west
Virginia and north-east Tennessee. The two parties have set up
goals to grow the proportion of fit people, reduce chronic
disease and improve on other key parameters.
The ACO is committed to accomplish the goals set by The
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which
includes 33 quality measures on preventive health, patient safety
and other critical parameters.
Wellmont Health System provides health services in south-west
Virginia and north-east Tennessee. The health system includes
eight full service hospitals, with a broad range of
offerings.
The Healthways model encourages people to make favorable
lifestyle changes that lead to enhanced well-being, reduced
healthcare costs, improved performance and economic value for
customers. The company has invested in technology platforms that
provide scalable support for large populations. It has tie-ups
with a large proportion of U.S. health plans and counts many
millions of lives in its customer base.
Due to its unique scalable business model, Healthways shares
may present a long-term investment opportunity, although it faces
many challenges in the short term.
Healthways is the leader in a strategically critical and
rapidly evolving part of the health care services market. Its
fitness program (SilverSneakers) for seniors is available at over
15,000 centers across the U.S. and caters to over nine million
eligible enrollees.
The SilverSneakers Fitness Program encourages older people to
regularly exercise, thereby reducing healthcare expenses and
enhancing well being. The program promotes positive changes in
behavior by meshing social encounters with its fitness regimen.
Healthways competes with
Express Scripts Holding Company
(
ESRX
) among others.
Currently, Healthways retains a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Air Methods Corp.
(
AIRM
) and
Covance Inc.
(
CVD
) carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and are expected to do
well.
AIR METHODS CRP (AIRM): Free Stock Analysis
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COVANCE INC (CVD): Free Stock Analysis Report
EXPRESS SCRIPTS (ESRX): Free Stock Analysis
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HEALTHWAYS INC (HWAY): Free Stock Analysis
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