Humana and DrFirst Collaborate to Enhance Care for Chronic Condition Patients.

Humana partners with DrFirst to enhance care for patients with chronic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The initiative focuses on increasing statin therapy adoption and aligns with CMS quality metrics. DrFirst's prescription orchestration platform integrates with over 270 EHR systems, streamlining workflows and enhancing provider collaboration. The partnership aims to improve medication adherence, optimize reimbursement, and strengthen provider relationships.

Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) and healthcare technology pioneer DrFirst have announced a strategic partnership aimed at improving care for patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The initiative, which focuses on increasing statin therapy adoption among eligible patients, aligns with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) quality metrics [1].

The collaboration leverages DrFirst's prescription orchestration platform, enabling real-time clinical collaboration between healthcare stakeholders. Providers can receive and act on prescription recommendations with a single click, significantly streamlining the workflow process. The platform is integrated with over 270 EHR systems, facilitating rapid implementation across various care settings [2].

This partnership extends the companies' decade-long collaboration, which previously introduced the first real-time prescription benefit tool in 2015. The new program aims to enhance medication adherence, optimize reimbursement, and strengthen provider relationships. By integrating recommendations directly into the e-prescribing workflow, Humana can influence prescribing behavior at the point of care, when providers are most likely to take action [2].

From a business perspective, this program addresses multiple strategic objectives. It potentially reduces medical costs by improving cardiovascular outcomes through statin therapy, enhances Humana's quality ratings (which impact Medicare Advantage star ratings and subsequent reimbursements), and strengthens provider relationships by offering workflow solutions rather than administrative burdens [2].

The technology builds upon their decade-long collaboration, demonstrating Humana's continued commitment to technology-enabled care improvement. For Humana, whose Medicare Advantage business faces ongoing market pressures, initiatives that simultaneously improve clinical outcomes while potentially boosting star ratings represent a valuable competitive approach in the increasingly value-based healthcare ecosystem.

References:
[1] https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/humana-and-drfirst-partner-on-innovation-to-fill-gaps-in-care-improve-outcomes-for-patients-with-diabetes-and-other-chronic-conditions-302528163.html
[2] https://www.stocktitan.net/news/HUM/humana-and-dr-first-partner-on-innovation-to-fill-gaps-in-care-wbygubyzsrwp.html