Press Release

Scene Health Launches Medication Engagement Program for Hypertension with Focus on Patient-Reported Outcomes (PRO) at Medicaid Innovations Forum

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Feb 8, 2023

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BALTIMORE (February 8, 2023) – People with hypertension can now remotely share video and audio-recorded reports of blood pressure outcomes with their health plans, providers, and Scene Health’s care team. The novel program announced by Scene Health will empower patients to take medication properly by providing daily support between medical appointments and enable health plans to document value-based outcomes.

The advancement was announced by Sebastian Seiguer, co-founder and CEO of Scene Health, at the Medicaid Innovations Forum. There, he joined experts from United Healthcare Community and State, AmeriHealth Caritas, the Mississippi State Department of Health, and Custom Health on a panel moderated by Adimika Arthur, Executive Director of HealthTech for Medicaid (HT4M).

“We piloted our hypertension program last fall with our health plan clients, and initial results are excellent,” notes Seiguer. “Hypertension is one of the most common health conditions in the U.S., and medication adherence is crucial to controlling blood pressure and reducing the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other serious medical issues. Augmented with video, audio, and text reports of how members are feeling and their blood pressure values, we are excited by this addition to an incredibly powerful engagement platform.”

Scene Health has piloted the approach to patient-reported outcomes in hypertension, diabetes, and asthma programs. Clinical outcomes data are reported via video, audio, and free text at daily medication check-ins, enabling Scene to not only ensure members adhere to their medication but also to drive patient awareness of indicators such as blood pressure readings. Recent updates to HEDIS measures allow blood pressure readings to be submitted by a patient verbally and captured during a virtual visit.

Hearing directly from a patient in their own words allows Scene Health’s care team the context to support them more effectively. “During the pandemic, we noticed significant differences between symptoms reported on video verbally or through free-form chat, and the symptoms reported in algorithm-driven app forms. The spoken and free-form reports are simply more accurate and contain the additional data that otherwise requires follow-up to clarify”, explained Seiguer. “We’re excited by the opportunity to use technology to help our care team respond more effectively based on better, richer data.” The timeliness of patient-reported data provides Scene’s customers with insights into health outcomes much faster than claims data can provide, and enables more prompt interventions.

Scene currently delivers programs for Medicaid and Medicare MCOs, public health departments, and life science organizations covering multiple chronic and infectious conditions including diabetes, asthma, cholesterol, opioid use disorder, hepatitis C, tuberculosis, hypertension, solid organ transplants, and sickle cell disease. Scene’s approach has been validated in more than 18 independent peer-reviewed publications.

About Scene

Scene’s (formerly emocha Health) 360° model of care scales and enhances the gold standard of medication adherence, Directly Observed Therapy. Combining personalized video coaching, education, and motivational content, Scene brings healthcare professionals, patients, and their families together to solve the $500B medication nonadherence problem. Scene’s mobile app allows patients to connect with a care team of pharmacists, nurses, and health coaches through daily video check-ins, anytime and anywhere. Hundreds of customers across the healthcare landscape use Scene’s medication engagement program to improve medication adherence for patients with chronic and infectious diseases.

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