Bend Memorial Clinic Collaborates with Clear One Health Plans to Create Focused Patient Care Model

New Model to Improve Quality and Access to Care While Controlling Costs
BEND, Ore.--(Business Wire)--
Bend Memorial Clinic (BMC), the largest provider of quality, comprehensive and
convenient physician healthcare in Central Oregon, has joined with Clear One
Health Plans to offer the region`s first Focused Patient Care Model, similar to
a Medical Home Model, beginning January 1, 2010. BMC`s team of more than 100
physicians and other providers care for approximately 3,800 Clear One Medicare
Advantage members all of whom will qualify for the program.

"We are drawing upon the success of our experience in the `Health Buddy`
Medicare cost savings demonstration project as our foundation," said Marvin
Lein, CEO of Bend Memorial Clinic.

"Recent studies have shown that the medical home model is an effective method to
improve healthcare while also reducing costs and improving patient
satisfaction," said Dr. Sean Rogers, BMC`s Medical Director and practicing
Internist. "Essentially, patients will receive better care by both preventing
complications arising from manageable chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart
conditions and high blood pressure, while increasing availability of same-day
appointments when office visits are needed. A physician-led team focuses on
managing all care needed by the patient."

"Our focused patient home model in collaboration with Bend Memorial Clinic will
provide Clear One Medicare Advantage members better access to quality care
through open scheduling, dedicated teams and increased member satisfaction with
their care, all while reducing health care costs," said Patricia Gibford,
president and CEO of Clear One Health Plans. A Clear One Nurse Case Manager,
embedded at BMC and as part of the team, will coordinate chronic care and
disease management services for members with chronic illness to better manage
the condition through increased access to the physician team. Ultimately our
goal is to improve members` health and wellbeing through a physician-team
approach to ensure members receive better overall access, appropriate treatment,
and improved quality of life."

Specific Benefits of the Medical Home Model include:

* Physician Team Accountability: Physicians and medical personnel proactively
focus on preventative care measures; efforts to help patients on a continual
basis; ability to connect patients with appropriate specialists within the
physician team; and overall quality treatment and care outcomes.
* Open Scheduling: Improved scheduling and more same-day appointments for
treatment will improve access to care.
* Nurse Case Manager: Nurse Case Managers will coordinate chronic disease care
with the patient and the physician team, which will improve care while reducing
the chance for duplicate tests and unnecessary hospitalizations, which
ultimately lead to lower costs. When needed, the Nurse Case Manager will also
work closely with physicians and others to better coordinate the transitions to
and from hospital care.
* Better Use of Physician Skills: The model encourages and recognizes the value
of physician-led teams spending time to anticipate patient care needs while
finding ways to prevent illness and expensive reactive care.

For more information, please visit
http://www.bendmemorialclinic.com/html/ne_news_events.htm.

About Bend Memorial Clinic

Bend Memorial Clinic includes more than 100 physicians representing 15 branches
of medicine and 30 specialty services including Urgent Care, Occupational
Medicine, Primary/Specialty Care and Clinical Services. With five locations
throughout the Central Oregon Region, BMC is the largest multi-specialty group
east of the Cascades and functions as a comprehensive referral center for
physicians and communities throughout the state. The Clinic has provided primary
and specialty care since 1946. For more information, please visit
www.bendmemorialclinic.com.

About Clear One Health Plans

Clear One Health Plans offers affordable health plans to meet the needs of
employers, providers, and consumers. The Company provides health insurance,
including Medicare Advantage plans, commercial plans, individual plans, and
administrative services to individuals and businesses throughout the West. The
Company also offers life, disability, dental, vision and voluntary benefits
programs, as well as employee benefit services to self-funded employers,
associations, Taft-Hartley Trusts, and Chamber of Commerce plans. Clear One is
dedicated to the development of community-based employee benefits programs,
health insurance, and ancillary plans. For information call 888-863-3637, visit
www.clearonehp.com.

Bend Memorial Clinic
Shannon Hinderberger, 541-322-3661
SHinderberger@bmctotalcare.com
or
LANE PR
Angie Galimanis, 503-546-7871
Angie@lanepr.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009