Health insurer Australian Unity has launched a new range of telephone, online and personal care services for people with chronic diseases living in their own homes.

The program will be supported by a web-enabled software system that will allow clients to share medical information with relevant care providers.

It is aimed at people with conditions like congestive heart failure, osteoporosis and coronary artery disease.

The program is the first of its type in Australia and it will be provided by Remedy Healthcare Group, a subsidiary of Australian Unity.

The launch of the program signals a shift in the private health insurance market from claims management to health service provision.

“Chronic diseases are estimated to account for 80 percent of Australia’s total disease burden and 99 percent of people are impacted by chronic disease in their lifetime either through a family member, a friend or through their own experience,” said Australian Unity’s Group Managing Director, Rohan Mead.

“The Remedy programs and services are designed to be available to the private and public healthcare system and through this network they can make a positive impact on the health of a significant proportion of Australia’s population.”

The program hopes to reduce avoidable hospital admissions by providing hospital in-patient services in people’s homes.

It will offer clients a phone-based self management service and face-to-face allied health support.

“We want to help patients who currently face difficulties in their management of chronic disease to stay as healthy as possible,” said the general manager of Remedy, John Meckiff.