HAP and Oak Street Health Partner to Enhance Care for MI Health Link Recipients

HAP and Oak Street Health are partnering to offer HAP Midwest MI Health Link members a new way to manage their health. At Oak Street Health centers, MI Health Link Medicare-Medicaid Plan (MMP) beneficiaries will experience a more comfortable approach to geriatric healthcare that encourages personal engagement.

HAP Midwest MI Health Link members receive both Medicare and Michigan Medicaid health care services as part of MI Health Link, a program jointly run by the State of Michigan and the federal government to provide better health care for people who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. HAP Midwest manages the health and well-being of these members with comprehensive primary care services to keep them healthy.

The partnership with Oak Street Health gives HAP Midwest MI Health Link members who live in Macomb and Wayne Counties access to a primary care center that specializes in managing all facets of well-being for older adults with complex medical needs. Through HAP Midwest, members also have access to home and community-based support and services to help them live independently.

“The new community-based model that Oak Street is offering gives our members the help and tools to ensure they’re taking the best care of themselves,” said Dr. Michael Genord, Senior Vice President & Chief Medical Officer for HAP and Chief Executive Officer of HAP Midwest Health Plan. “The comfortable environment will keep people coming back more often and will take the fear out of visiting the doctor.”

Oak Street Health’s community-based care model focuses on the overall value of health care for its patients. Its facilities feature more comprehensive services than a traditional doctor’s office, with 24-hour access to a physician, flexible scheduling, more face time with doctors, transportation to office visits, community health/wellness events, state-of-the-art technology and a dedicated care team to coordinate all health needs.

“Oak Street is committed to rebuilding health care as it should be, showing how a new approach to primary care in communities that don’t have ample access to care can remove barriers for adults on Medicare,” said Oak Street Health CEO and co-founder Mike Pykosz. “We’re excited to work with innovative organizations like Health Alliance Plan, whose vision strongly aligns with ours, which is providing measurably better health to communities.”

Oak Street staff meet with patients three times as often compared to the time spent with patients in a standard doctor’s office. The increased time with the patient establishes trust and inspires the patient to visit more often. This proven strategy has reduced Medicare hospitalizations in other Oak Street facilities by more than 40 percent.