In 2003, a group of St. Louis-area doctors grew frustrated with big insurance companies making it difficult for them to care for patients. They realized that in order to provide the high-quality care people with Medicare needed and deserved, something had to change.

By working collaboratively and sharing information freely with the doctors and health systems in its network, Essence was able to help ensure that every patient received the right care, in the right setting, at the right cost. By collaborating and partnering with doctors, something remarkable happened: the quality of care members received improved while the cost of care actually decreased.

Highlights

• Medicare Advantage