Managed Care COVID-19 Outcomes in a Population Health Program

Objectives: To determine (1) factors linked to hospitalizations among managed carepatients (MCPs), (2) outcome improvement with use of outpatient off-label treatment, and(3) outcome comparison between MCPs and a mirror group. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study comparing MCPs with an age- A nd gender-matched mirror group in Florida from April 1, 2020, to May 31, 2020. Methods: A total of 38,193 MCPs in a Florida primary care group were monitored for COVID-19 incidence, hospitalization, and mortality. The highest-risk patients were managed by themedical group's COVID-19 Task Force. As part of a population health program, the COVID-19 Task Force contacted patients, conducted medical encounters, and tracked data includingcomorbidities and medical outcomes. The MCPs enrolled in the medical group werecompared with a mirror group from the state of Florida. Results: The mean (SD) age among the MCPs was 67.9 (15.2) years, and 60% were female.Older age and hypertension were the most important factors in predicting COVID-19. Obesity,chronic kidney disease (CKD), and congestive heart failure (CHF) were linked to higher ratesof hospitalizations. Patients prescribed off-label outpatient medications had 73% lowerlikelihood of hospitalization ( P < .05). Compared with the mirror group, MCPs had 60% lower COVID-19 mortality ( P < .05). Conclusions: MCPs have risk factors similar to the general population for COVID-19incidence and progression, including older age, hypertension, obesity, CHF, and CKD.Outpatient treatment with off-label medicines decreased hospitalizations. A comprehensivepopulation health program decreased COVID-19 mortality.