Mercy Care Plan and Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care have partnered with Equality Health to reduce health disparities and enhance the provision of integrated behavioral health services to Medicaid recipients in Arizona.
Mercy Care and Mercy Maricopa, both locally owned and operated not-for-profit Medicaid managed care health plans, have signed an agreement with Phoenix-based Equality Health which is designed to improve health outcomes for their high-risk members. Equality Health will assist Mercy Care and Mercy Maricopa by providing programs and tools for the health plans to support health care providers in managing members, including those who are receiving high dosages of opioids.
“We are committed to helping our members who require opioids for appropriate pain management, as well as those who are struggling with substance use disorder and other behavioral health concerns,” said Mark Fisher, CEO of Mercy Care Plan.”We are equally committed to helping our providers who are supporting these members in their recovery. This arrangement with Equality Health will help us do that.”
Equality Health has developed a holistic approach to integrated care management that combines provider cultural care training, proprietary population health technology and community services to organize a better health care delivery system for at-risk and underserved populations.
“The country is facing a serious opioid crisis that cannot be addressed through traditional, primary health care alone,” said Hugh Lytle, Equality Health Founder and CEO. “Beyond the physical, mental health issues and cultural and social determinants play a huge role in overall health outcomes. Our collaboration with Mercy Care and Mercy Maricopa is a step in the right direction to ensure those experiencing complex health issues get the best possible treatment.”
The agreement between Mercy Care, Mercy Maricopa and Equality Health is a value-based contract that supports the vision of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Arizona’s Medicaid agency, to deliver payment innovation that aligns with quality service delivery and improved outcomes for AHCCCS members.
About Mercy Care Plan and Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care
Mercy Care Plan and Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care are nonprofit health plans serving AHCCCS members throughout Arizona. Sponsored by Dignity Health and Ascension Health, Mercy Care Plan has served Medicaid members since 1985. Mercy Care Plan serves families, children, seniors, and people with physical and developmental/cognitive disabilities.
Mercy Care Plan is also an owner of Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care, the Regional Behavioral Health Authority in Maricopa County and the first RBHA in Arizona to offer integrated physical and behavioral health services to persons determined to have a serious mental illness. Mercy Maricopa manages the public behavioral health system in Maricopa County and parts of Pinal County. Mercy Maricopa contracts with a wide network of community providers that serve members and give them the support they need to reach their recovery goals.
About Equality Health
Equality Health, LLC is an Arizona-based integrated delivery system focused on improving care delivery for underserved populations through culturally-sensitive programs that improve access, quality and patient trust. Through an integrated technology and services platform, culturally competent provider network and unique cultural care model, Equality Health helps managed care plans and health systems improve care for the Hispanic population while simultaneously making the transition to risk-based accountability. For more information about Equality Health, visit www.equalityhealth.com or follow @EqualityHealth on Facebook and @EqualityHealth on Twitter.