The partnership will bring non-pharmacological interventions for dementia and alternatives to high-cost drugs to patients across Washington State.
A new partnership between brain health company, Together Senior Health and accountable care organisation, Rainier Health Network,
The partnership will introduce Together’s suite of dementia-specific programs, including in-home virtual interventions, to patients across Rainier Health Network in Washington state where the organisation oversees the healthcare of over 60,000 Medicare patients.
Alzheimer’s and related dementias affect more than 6.7 million Americans with 14 million projected cases by 2060. The associated healthcare costs for individuals with dementia are among the highest of any condition. Payers and providers face significant challenges in managing this expanding population.
According to a recent survey conducted by Sage Growth Partners, 77 per cent of health plans and value-based care organizations agree the need to address the growing cost of ADRD is urgent or very urgent; however, only 4 per cent have a fully-developed solution in place to support this population.
Approximately half of those surveyed also indicated a concern with the costs of Leqembi and other high-cost pharmaceuticals.
Together’s Moving Together programme offers a non-pharmacological intervention for dementia and a safe alternative to high-cost drugs that are not clinically appropriate for many dementia patients and have potential side effects.
The programme allows payers and risk-bearing healthcare organisations to more effectively manage patients. Together Senior Health says the programme results in improved engagement, reduced costs and improved health outcomes.
Recently, the company has been gaining industry traction. In addition to its partnership with Rainer Health Network, the firm is affiliated with the likes of VNS Health, VillageMD and the Alzheimer’s Association.
“Supporting our members with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias is critical,” said Dr Francis Mercado chief medical officer and board chair at Rainier Health Network. “It’s a vulnerable population and Together Senior Health’s Moving Together™ solution is a proven, natural way to improve their lives and control costs.”
Together’s Moving Together™ programme is based on over ten years of clinical research in neuroscience with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Results from Together’s randomised control trial show statistically significant improvements in quality of life for individuals with cognitive decline and in caregiver ability to manage stress. The data also shows a reduction in falls and proven annual cost savings of up to $4,300 per participant per year.
Caregivers in the programme have also benefited, reporting enhanced caregiving skills.
Together is in the process of commercialising RADAR, its proprietary dementia identification and stratification algorithm. The algorithm helps payors and risk-bearing healthcare organisations identify people at highest risk for Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and cognitive decline using claims data, electronic health record information and other relevant data.
“We are proud of the positive impact Together is making on the lives of those affected by dementia and are excited to partner with one of the nation’s premier ACOs to extend dementia-specific programs to its patients,” said Alissa Meade, CEO of Together Senior Health.
“Rainier Health Network, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health and Together share a deep commitment to providing holistic dementia solutions that enrich the lives of participants while empowering forward-thinking, risk-bearing organizations to engage and manage this rapidly growing patient population effectively.”
