CHICAGO and CUPERTINO, Calif. - July 30, 2024 – Zing Health, an innovative insurance company providing managed care for historically underserved Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, and Story Health, a digital health company transforming specialty care delivery, today announced a collaboration to deploy a specialized care program for at-risk members with cardiac conditions. Zing Health will identify eligible members with the greatest risk of poor heart failure outcomes and connect them with Story Health’s industry-leading program.
Story Health combines technology and a specialized care team to improve the health and quality of life for people living with cardiovascular health issues. Eligible Zing Health members – many who struggle to regularly see a provider – can enroll in the program and engage with Story Health’s clinical care team including cardiologists, cardiac nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and health coaches. The health coaches will provide an additional layer of support addressing social barriers to care like arranging prescription affordability assistance, providing condition education to improve health literacy, and coordinating prescription delivery by mail to ensure members receive their medications. Members participate from anywhere, without needing to visit a clinic unless a procedure is required.
Founded in 2019 by two African American physicians and experienced healthcare executive veterans, Zing Health addresses inadequacies in the healthcare system by creating collaborative, community-based Medicare Advantage plans. It provides managed care Medicare Advantage plans built for seniors with chronic conditions and addresses social determinants of health to reduce healthcare disparities among historically underserved populations. The collaboration with Story Health is part of Zing Health’s commitment to personalized support that includes results-oriented chronic condition management and excellent member satisfaction.
“Through careful assessment and understanding, we’ve crafted a holistic and customized strategy that addresses the medical needs of the chronic populations we serve at Zing Health. We provide access to the best clinical resources that meet our members where they are, which is why we’ve partnered with Story Health,” said TJ Ackerman, SVP, Provider and Network Performance, Zing Health. “With a shared focus on high quality, patient-centered care, our partnership ensures that every member with heart failure has access to comprehensive support tailored to their needs.”
Story Health’s care model has been proven to deliver superior health outcomes with high levels of engagement – especially for underserved populations like communities of color or those that live in rural areas. In collaboration with a leading health system, Story Health helped the cardiology team drive significant improvements in treatment and outcomes for Black patients with heart failure and/or hypertension.
"At Story Health, we understand that managing heart failure goes beyond medical interventions; it's about addressing the full spectrum of people's lives. We recognize the profound impact of social determinants on health outcomes,” said Story Health Co-founder and President Nita Sommers. “By integrating these factors into our programs, we employ a comprehensive approach that will empower Zing Health members to stay on track with their treatment and stay out of the hospital."
The collaboration with Zing Health will operate under a value based care model. It will be measured on engagement, improved health outcomes, and the ability to reduce key metrics like inpatient admissions. This marks yet another value based arrangement for Story Health, following previously announced partnerships with multiple organizations.
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About Story Health
Story Health is a digital health company transforming specialty care delivery. With a technology-enabled and human-powered approach, Story Health is on a mission to transform each patient’s care journey by enabling clinicians and institutions to implement and scale continuous specialty care delivery to every patient with heart disease, leaving no patient behind. Story Health works with many of the most prestigious health systems across the country, including ChristianaCare, Intermountain Health, and Saint Luke’s Health System in addition to many leading at-risk providers. For more information, please visit StoryHealth.com.
About Zing Health
Founded in 2019, Zing Health Holdings Inc. is a physician founded and led insurance company making Medicare Advantage the best it can be for eligible beneficiaries. Named one of the 2022 Best Places to Work in Healthcare, Zing Health adopts a community-based approach that addresses the social determinants of health, keeping individuals and communities healthy while returning the physician and the member to the center of the healthcare equation. Each member gets personalized care and service, access to facilities designed to help them better meet their healthcare needs and a dedicated care team. For more information on Zing Health, visit myzinghealth.com.
Contact Story Health:
Sam Moore