Fall 2024 Insight Employer Newsletter

Independent Health once again receives national recognition from NCQA

For the second consecutive year, Independent Health is the only health plan in New York state to receive the highest possible rating of 5 stars for clinical quality and member satisfaction, according to the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA) 2024 Commercial Health Plan Ratings. Independent Health’s HMO/POS (Commercial) plan is also one of just three Commercial plans in the nation to earn 5-star status for 2024.

NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. The annual NCQA Health Plan Ratings are a valuable tool because they help plans evaluate whether their members are receiving high-quality coordinated care and service.

As part of the 2024 Health Plan ratings, NCQA reviewed 581 health plans from across the country and rated their Commercial products based on their combined Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS), Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) and NCQA Accreditation scores. Each health plan was rated on a 5-star scale for patient experience, prevention and equity, and treatment.

“Independent Health is very proud to once again be recognized by NCQA as not only the highest-rated health plan in New York, but also one of the top performing plans in the entire nation,” said Michael W. Cropp, M.D., CEO, Independent Health. “By receiving NCQA’s prestigious 5-star recognition for a second straight year, Independent Health continues to outperform other plans when it comes to the quality of care our members receive and our efforts to improve the overall care experience. We work closely with our physician and provider partners to make sure our members get the appropriate preventive care and disease management services they need to stay healthy. Through these efforts, we have found that better care leads to less costs and healthier, happier members.”

In 2023, Independent Health became the first Western New York health plan to ever receive 5 stars from NCQA. Independent Health was previously a 4.5-star rated Commercial plan from 2015-2022.

The complete NCQA Health Plan Ratings for 2024 are available on NCQA’s website.

About NCQA
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA Accredits and Certifies a wide range of health care organizations and recognizes clinicians in key clinical areas. NCQA’s HEDIS® is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA’s website (https://www.ncqa.org/) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make informed health care choices.

Creating a culture that supports the mental health of your employees

Mental health issues continue to be a growing concern for employers and their employees, both personally and professionally. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, about 1 in 5 adults experience mental illness each year, but only 40% seek the necessary help.

Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental and behavioral health conditions that affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors.

The good news is mental illness is treatable. Therefore, now more than ever, employers have the opportunity to make a difference by creating a culture that truly supports and values the mental health of their employees.

Start by breaking the stigma
Employees experiencing mental health issues and disorders need help and hope. They may be uncertain how their condition will be viewed at work. They often feel unsupported, misunderstood or the subject of an associated stigma – so they may suffer alone.

Knowing it is okay to care is the first step. For most employers, managers and human resources departments, they do care and want to break the stigma that’s associated with mental health. It’s just they simply don’t know where to begin.

Mental health issues can be hard to recognize. Managers may especially feel ill prepared without the resources they need to address issues and offer proper support. However, by increasing awareness and providing education and tools to their leadership team and employees, organizations can demonstrate they have a culture that is caring, knowledgeable and supportive.

How Independent Health can help
Independent Health is here to make it easier for employers to help address the mental health needs of their employees. Here are some examples of what we’re doing:

• In partnership with Horizon Health Services, one of the largest providers of outpatient mental health and substance use treatment in Western New York, Independent Health offers a Mental Health Toolkit to large group employers that offer workplace wellness programs. The toolkit is designed to help employers train their leaders to recognize the signs of mental illness, understand what the employee is dealing with and respond appropriately during what may be a difficult conversation. It includes a variety of resources and educational seminars that are available to employers to help increase awareness, provide support and further develop a caring, inclusive workplace culture. 
• Independent Health employs a comprehensive team of behavioral health professionals – including psychiatrists, mental health nurses, social workers, pharmacists, licensed counselors and case managers – that is dedicated to helping your employees obtain timely, individualized and effective evidence-based care and treatment for mental health issues and substance use disorders. Our Behavioral Health Department can be reached at (716) 529-3945, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• By using Independent Health’s telemedicine benefit through Teladoc^®, your employees can consult with psychologists, therapists, psychiatrists, clinical social workers, substance use counselors and doctors. Phone consultations are available 24/7 while online video consultations can be requested from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Valuable information regarding mental health and substance abuse resources that are available through Independent Health as well as in the Western New York community is posted on our website.
• Independent Health members have access to a vast and wide-ranging network of mental health and substance abuse specialists, therapists, counselors and facilities. Use our “Find A Provider” tool to search our participating provider network.

If you are interested in supporting your employees’ mental health, we may be able to assist you. Contact your Independent Health account manager today.

Encourage your employees to get a flu shot and other preventive care services

Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. While flu viruses spread year-round, flu activity usually peaks between November and February.

The best way to protect oneself from the flu is by getting an annual flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all people aged 6 months and older get a flu shot by the end of October, but vaccination at any time during the flu season can be protective.

Other vaccines to consider
Updated COVID-19 booster vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer have been approved by the FDA for 2024-2025 and are now available to the general public. Getting the updated COVID-19 booster shot is important because protection decreases with time. The updated vaccine can also protect the public from newer strains that are currently circulating.

People who are age 60 or older should also talk with their doctor to see if the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine is right for them. RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Although most people recover in a week or two, RSV can be serious in some cases. Infants and older adults are more likely to develop severe RSV and need hospitalization.

Since the flu, COVID-19 and RSV can impact a company’s or business’s operations in terms of absenteeism and productivity, employers are encouraged to promote the importance of vaccination to their employees.

Let your employees know it’s safe to get all three shots together, so they don’t have to make multiple trips to their doctor’s office or pharmacy.

The importance of preventive care
Receiving regular preventive care is the most important step one can take to better manage their health. Preventive services include check-ups, immunizations, screenings and counseling that prevent illness, disease and other health-related problems. These services can help detect serious medical conditions and lead to early treatment, which in turn increases survival rates, improves quality of life and lowers long-term medical costs.

When it comes to the health of our members, Independent Health likes to take a proactive approach because that ultimately leads to better health outcomes. We offer more than 60 preventive care services and screenings at a $0 copayment as a way to make it easier for your employees to get healthy and stay healthy. This includes the flu shot, COVID-19 booster and RSV vaccine. These preventive care services are covered in full when rendered by an in-network/participating health care provider. Plus, they are excluded from deductibles – so those enrolled in a deductible plan can get these services right from the start.