Ucare Minnesota

Ucare Minnesota, a health maintenance organization, is dedicated to promoting the health of the community it serves by making quality healthcare available on an economically advantageous, prepaid basis. With a mission to improve the health of its members, Ucare Minnesota offers innovative services and partnerships across various communities.

Serving approximately 640,000 individuals enrolled in state government programs, federal Medicare Advantage programs, dual eligible Medicare, Medicaid programs, and MNsure Marketplace plans, Ucare Minnesota provides coordinated healthcare and coverage. The organization targets seniors, low-income families, people with physical disabilities, and others who may face challenges accessing healthcare. Ucare Minnesota's commitment to the health of its members is evident in its extensive programs and services.

Ucare Minnesota's strategic interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic focused on reducing the disproportionate burden of the virus among diverse population groups and addressing health disparities and inequalities related to COVID-19. These efforts included structural interventions, community resources, and tailored interventions to support NCQA, HEDIS, STAR ratings, quality rating systems, CAHPS, HOS, member experience, member safety, focused studies, disease management and care management programs.

Ucare Minnesota's quality monitoring, program initiatives, and services demonstrated significant activities and outcomes. In 2022, the organization maintained NCQA's health plan accreditation for its full line of Medicare, partner products, Medicaid, and marketplace products. Moreover, Ucare Minnesota provided numerous health promotion, disease management, care management, and wellness programs that not only benefited the health of enrollees but positively affected their families and larger communities. These efforts included disease management programs for asthma, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and congestive heart failure; falls prevention programs for seniors; and maternity services programs for pregnant women and children. Additionally, Ucare Minnesota supported member health with access to many different fitness options and discounts on health and wellness-related services.

Ucare Minnesota conducted a variety of health-related educational sessions, tools, and materials for members, providers, and the public. In 2022, the organization conducted 81 Medicare education classes, which were attended by 340 individuals. Ucare Minnesota also partnered with Wellshare International to provide educational opportunities for diverse populations and with the Somali Community to conduct culturally appropriate health education classes for community families, elders, and imams regarding preventative care and chronic condition management. Furthermore, Ucare Minnesota produced numerous newsletter articles educating both members and providers about various topics, including dental benefits, chronic condition management, new provider search tool, Medicare coverage updates, and caregiving support for families.

Ucare Minnesota's health-related screenings and services, which are available at no or low cost to members and the public, include preventative care, flu shots, and health educational information. The organization also provided in-person logistical support at over 80 COVID vaccine clinics in 18 Minnesota counties and offered the use of the Ucare Healthmobile to an African American community organization to encourage vaccination. In addition, Ucare Minnesota's Mobile Dental Clinic, operated with the University of Minnesota's School of Dentistry, offers quality oral healthcare to Ucare Members with dental access issues. The organization's employees devoted time to participate in community collaborations and partnerships that support efforts to improve healthcare quality and research initiatives, advance public health and healthcare access, and reduce healthcare disparities or social determinants of health. Examples of organizations and collaborations with which Ucare employees worked include Minnesota Community Measurement, MN Homeless, and Parents in Community Action Head Start, Hmong American Partnership, Minnesota Health Literacy Partnership, Minnesota Public Health Association, and the Multilingual Health Resource Exchange.