CAAP Programs and Progress

In less than two years, CAAP successfully launched pilot programs involving information sharing technology, emergency department care coordination and electronic referral, copayment vouchers, pharmaceutical patient assistance, primary/behavioral health integration initiatives as well as community resource guide distribution.

The consortium is refining and expanding these programs throughout the community.

Information Sharing Technology: Information technology forms the foundation for systems that enable CAAP to achieve its goals. CAAP invested approximately $750,000 in hardware, software, network infrastructure, training and licensing to provide its members with a state-of-the-art, EHS Care Revolution electronic medical records systems.

CAAP’s three federally qualified health center (FQHC) affiliates and their six, satellite primary-care safety-net sites now share access to central appointment schedules and medical records. Using the same software at each clinic provides a foundation for programming and evaluation for multiple providers.

Emergency Department Care Coordination & Electronic Referral Programs: A CAAP pilot referral program between Baton Rouge General Medical Center emergency department (ED) and Baton Rouge Primary Care, an FQHC, yielded an improved system of referral. The General’s staff now identifies uninsured patients lacking a medical home and using the ED for primary care and schedules them directly for an appointment at a primary care FQHC. Approximately 300 patients per month are scheduled for primary care; 31% of patients keep their appointments.

Vouchers: In November 2006, CAAP examined the impact of copayments on unassigned patients’ hesitancy to seek ongoing primary care at its FQHC affiliates and identified the best point of intervention. To eliminate the copayment as an obstacle, ED care coordinators now issue vouchers to patients referred from hospitals to FQHCs.

Patient Assistance Program Outreach: CAAP provides access to a web-based, pharmaceutical-assistance software that allows personnel at nine member sites to qualify uninsured, low-income patients for free medications. CAAP partners also received updates on Medicare Part D and assisted member FQHCs in establishing or enhancing 340B pharmacy participation, which allows qualified pharmacies to both receive and offer pharmaceuticals at a discounted price.

Primary Care and Behavioral Health Integration: With the post-Katrina growth in both Baton Rouge’s population and demand for local mental health services, many of CAAP’s partners are increasing access and early intervention services for patients with mental illness before their conditions become severe or persistent; educating providers about effective strategies for providing preventive physical health care to patients with mental illness; and working with clinics to identify a business model to receive compensation for those services and even fund in-house counselors.

Resource Guide: In February 2006(Should this be 2005?), CAAP released the first Region II Resource Guide, a pocket-sized booklet with information on locations, fees and services of 99 primary care, behavioral health and pharmacy organizations serving low-income individuals. While the document can be downloaded online, CAAP printed and distributed 10,000 copies. The 2005 guide proved to be essential in assisting the hurricanes evacuees in Baton Rouge in locating resources. The popularity of the Region II Resource Guide warranted an updated reprint in February 2007 and inspired other Louisiana regions to distribute similar information in their communities.