By Pat Hill
The Gazette
A study conducted by Presken Consulting estimates savings of $48 million a year in Colorado if more patients were treated at home rather than transported by ambulance to a hospital.
The study considered payments by Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance, said Paul Presken, in a report to Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera in Woodland Park last month.
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Presken’s report highlighted the work of Ute Pass Health Service District in treating patients at home. Fueled recently by a $656,005 grant from the Office of eHealth Innovation (OeHI), with the support of Primavera, the district is recognized around the state for innovations in home treatment.
“We are one of the only ambulance services in Colorado that administers whole blood for treatment (in place),” said James McLaughlin, director of the district’s community paramedics.
Not only does the ambulance service offer whole blood on the spot, but the providers offer treatment in place with battery-powered oxygen tanks delivered to homes in Teller County.
“As you can imagine, it is difficult to access healthcare in a rural community but virtually impossible to access oxygen,” McLaughlin said. “At 10,000 feet, the suppliers of oxygen will only come up once a week and sometimes every other week.”
Presken countered a doomsday scenario with an upbeat report about the potential for solutions to cuts in Medicaid.
“Because rural communities are heavily dependent on Medicaid, reductions in the program are estimated to total $137 billion in Colorado’s rural areas,” Presken said, reading from the report.
The report adds that cuts are expected to put financial strain on rural hospitals and contribute to hospital closures.
“For the first time in Colorado, we have community paramedics to perform any procedure, administer any medication and diagnostic test as long as they have been trained and approved by a medical director,” McLaughlin said. “You want to talk about increasing access to healthcare, this is a game changer. That has never happened in the state of Colorado. It takes a certain amount of trust.”
According to a press release from Primavera’s office, the $656,005 grant helped the district modernize its Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) unit and laid the groundwork for stronger, better-connected MIH programs across the state. Primavera is the director of the Office of Saving People Money on Health Care.
“There are certainly savings to the payers and also the patient if they were treated in place,” Presken said.
McLaughlin added, “You will get a bill, but it is expected to be 17% less than what a hospital charges,” he said.
In an informal reception after the presentation in the offices of the health service district, McLaughlin and the staff provided refreshments, blueberry pie and popcorn, after hearing about Primavera’s preferred snacks.
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