December 19, 2019
Colorectal cancer and diabetes are among the top 10 leading causes of death in the U.S, but the impact of these diseases can be decreased with early detection.
Premera is working with a vendor called Home Access to send members kits to test for early signs of colon cancer and to test hemoglobin A1c levels for diabetes. The kits will be specific to members with a gap in care as defined by the HEDIS specifications for Colorectal Cancer Screening and Diabetic HbA1c Testing.
In November, approximately 11,000 members in Alaska and eastern Washington received one or both test kits with instructions on how to submit their specimen(s). Home Access sends the results to the member and their attributed primary care physician on file, if available. The letter that accompanies the results clearly states that a critical result is not a diagnosis, but an indicator to seek care from a physician.
Your office may receive results for a patient, and if considered a critical result or out-of-range result, we recommend contacting your patient to discuss next steps. If you have questions on this program, please contact MemberEngagement@Premera.com.