MCOs following innovative CMS remote monitoring initiative: self-testing service is designed to lower costs and improve outcomes for anticoagulation therapy.

Managing anticoagulation therapy has been difficult and costly for providers and for payers, as complications are common. For example, the cost of mitigating a single anticoagulation related hemorrhagic complication can exceed $10,000 per claim. In 2002, CMS initiated a new model of anticoagulation patient management that combines technology with remote monitoring to improve traditional care. Managed care organizations are now adopting this model, and improved outcomes at lower cost should result.