A longtime emergency room Physician Assistant Keith Algozzine, noticed an increased number of patients were showing up who didn’t truly need to be there.

“One of the reasons the ER is so overutilized is that it’s easy,” Algozzine said. “You know it is there 24/7 and you know a team of people will be ready to take care of you no matter what you show up for.”

Five years ago, Algozzine helped launch United Concierge Medicine — which allows patients to consult with doctors through a computer or mobile app.

“Just pick up the phone and call or click on your app and you are going to get the highest trained emergency medicine team to help you,” Algozzine said.

This past fall, the company partnered with CDPHP and Rensselaer County to offer a first-of-its-kind program in the state. Through the mobile platform known as ER Anywhere, the county’s Medicaid recipients can now receive non-emergency care remotely. 

“Honestly, it may be the single most innovative thing that has been done with Medicaid in the entire country in a number of years,” said Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin.

In the first three months of ER Anywhere, CDPHP says there have been more than 80 consults with a 99 percent patient satisfaction rate.

“All of that work they would get in an ER after waiting for a couple of hours will be taken care of right away,” CDPHP Chief Strategy Officer Bob Hinckley said.

A total of 97 percent of ER Anywhere patients have been able to avoid a trip to the ER, which frees up ambulances for patients who truly need it and saves taxpayer dollars. McLaughlin says Rensselaer County spends almost $10 million a year on ambulance costs for Medicaid recipients. 

“Every time an ambulance rolls and then goes to an emergency room, roughly it is probably going to be at least $4,000 or $5,000 of Medicaid money being spent,” McLaughlin said.

Based on the early success here in Rensselaer County, CDPHP is expanding ER Anywhere to its entire footprint of 16 counties — which stretches from the Capital Region to the Canadian border and as far west as Utica.

“We think this is going to be a big hit in all areas of the state, in particular, the rural areas where people have a much more difficult time finding their way to their doctor for primary care or even to the hospital,” Hinckley said.

With the state facing a massive deficit, Governor Andrew Cuomo has directed counties to drastically reduce Medicaid spending. Stakeholders believe ER Anywhere is already providing a blueprint for how to cut costs while improving patient care.

“It was really so perfect for us because it really hit the core,” Algozzine said.

“It’s a $6 billion deficit, $4 billion of that is Medicaid. If we don’t do something to address it, the problem is just going to grow and grow and grow,” McLaughlin said.