HJBR May/Jun 2019

“By taking care of disease up front, you can prevent some level of acute care that’s needed down the road.” —David Hochheiser, Blue Cross Senior Vice President for Provider Networks and Healthcare Value David Hochheiser Healthcare Value, estimated that providers helped reduce premiumcosts by at least $40 million by improving health for more than 130,000 patients. “People were needing less hospitalization,” he said. “By taking care of disease up front, you can prevent some level of acute care that’s needed down the road.” He challenged the notion that Louisiana fares too poorly in national health rank- ings to improve. Using his own health as an analogy, he emphasized attainable progress statewide. “I’m never going to be my ideal weight, but even if I lose five or ten pounds that makes a significant impact inmy over- all health.” Improving Quality of Life Weaver has not been back to a hospital emergency roomsince she became Dr. Cole’s patient. “I’mwatching what I eat and exercis- ing,” she said, describing her future weight loss targets. She also urged other patients who struggle with chronic disease to seek help. “You’re addingmore years to your life, getting to be there for your kids and grand- kids,”she said. “It won’t cost us somuch if we get it caught while we’re younger.” n Driving Down Costs