MSDN Industry Center - Health Plans - Consumer Engagement Reference Architecture (CERA) for Health Plans

Health plans are under unprecedented pressure to improve the health and quality outcomes of members and mitigate the spiraling costs of health insurance that's draining the resources of employers and raising the ranks of the uninsured to record levels. Personal choices and health behaviors are fundamental causes for spiraling medical costs. To improve the situation consumers must be engaged in their health. However there are many barriers to engaging consumers in their health. Consumers do not want to be force fed information they're not interested in, nor do they want to visit special centers for information or education. The solution to getting and keeping consumers engaged in their health is by “going where they go”. The best way to do this is to reach consumers where they spend time -- on their home media centers, mobile devices, online portals, and instant messengers.

There are three key technology strategies that can enable health plans to overcome these barriers to engaging consumers in their health.  Technologies must be designed and deployed to advocate personal health by scaling and extending labor-intense health management processes, they must adapt health management interfaces to the digital lifestyles and preferences of consumers, and they must activate members to continually improve their health behaviors and self-manage their conditions.

Consumer Engagement Reference Architecture (white paper) There are many barriers to engaging consumers in their health. Personal technology can bridge this barrier and help in reaching consumers. Utilizing the compelling office business application platform a reference architecture is created. This reference architecture demonstrates the use of building blocks to quickly assemble an engaging solution for consumers. It demonstrates many ways to collaborate with the consumers and coach them in improving their health. Solutions Architecture Presentation This presentation walks through the process of building a reference architecture. It demonstrates the steps involved in using Windows Live ID for authentication, collaborating between the health and wellness coach and the member, and building an OBA (Office Business Application) for health plans. It also outlines the technical challenges, solutions architecture, and the associated technologies. Watch this presentation to get an understanding of what the user experience is like for members and coaches as they use an OBA.

Why Should a Business Decision Maker Care About CERA for Health Plans This presentation provides the business challenges and benefits of CERA for Health Plans. It provides an overview of the business challenges in health plan industry and an explanation of how the Office application platform addresses these challenges. This presentation will also explain how other personal technologies such as Windows Live platform, Mobile platform, media center, etc can help in engaging members in improving their health and reducing health costs. Download the Reference Architecture Code Download the reference architecture code. This download includes sample code that demonstrates the process of building and assembling a solution. The code is packaged as installable bits into a MSI (Microsoft Installer).

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