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The Surge towards home care and the emergence of advanced connective technologies

In this week’s email:

• Today’s Insight from AgingHere

• Expansion of Community-Based Transitional Care Program Aims to Improve Patient Transitions and Quality of Care

• Community Paramedics and the Shift Towards Home Hospitals

• Revolutionizing Healthcare, The $265 Billion Shift Towards Home Care by 2025

• From Hospital to Home with Advanced Connective Technologies

• Today’s AgingHere Survey

• Making us laugh this week

• AgingHere Referral Program

• Today’s Sponsor: Mastering Medicare Podcast (MasteringMedicare.net)

Today’s Insight from AgingHere

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is taking steps to improve patient care transitions by expanding the Community-based Care Transitions Program (CCTP) to include 20 new groups and organizations. This program provides up to $500 million in funding, with payments to participating hospitals and community-based organizations based on the cost of care-transition services.

Innovation in healthcare delivery has seen the rise of Hospital at Home (HAH) programs, which have been increasingly applied during the pandemic. These programs use community paramedics (CPs) for home-based care, resulting in reduced hospital stays, lower complication rates, and cost savings. Nevertheless, challenges persist, including regulatory variation and stakeholder reluctance.

Looking forward, by 2025, an estimated $265 billion worth of care services could transition towards home care, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, increased use of telehealth, and technological advancements. Despite uncertainties around reimbursement rates, this shift is seen as beneficial for healthcare stakeholders and patients.

Finally, advanced connective technologies like Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), Personal Emergency Response Services (PERS), and medication management tools are increasingly used to enhance patient care post-discharge. These technologies help in reducing readmissions and costs, enhancing patient satisfaction, and facilitating smoother transitions from hospital to home while addressing health issues such as fall-related injuries and medication-related adverse events.

Expansion of Community-Based Transitional Care Program Aims to Improve Patient Transitions and Quality of Care

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have expanded the Community-based Care Transitions Program (CCTP) with 20 new groups and organizations. The program aims to improve patient care transitions and quality, offering up to $500 million in funding. Participants, including hospitals and community-based organizations, receive payments based on the cost of care-transition services provided. Read more.

Community Paramedics and the Shift Towards Home Hospitals

Hospital at Home (HAH) programs have emerged as an innovative way to deliver high-level care to patients in their homes, involving twice-daily visits from medical teams and advanced equipment. In these programs, community paramedics (CPs) play a crucial role in delivering care, which has shown to result in reduced hospital stays, lower complication rates, and cost savings. Such initiatives have been supported through Medicare funding and have seen increased application, particularly during the pandemic. However, challenges such as regulatory variation and reluctance among stakeholders remain. read more.

Revolutionizing Healthcare, The $265 Billion Shift Towards Home Care by 2025

By 2025, up to $265 billion worth of care services for Medicare beneficiaries could shift to home care, catalyzed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Increased use of telehealth, new technologies, and burgeoning digital health investments are key drivers. Despite uncertainties in reimbursement rates, this shift could offer value for healthcare stakeholders and improve patients' care quality. Home care solutions could include primary-care via telehealth, home-based dialysis, and skilled nursing services. Adoption depends on factors such as continued telehealth use and the increased need for post-acute and long-term care. read more.

From Hospital to Home with Advanced Connective Technologies

With US hospital readmissions costing over $26 billion annually, technologies like Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM), Personal Emergency Response Services (PERS), and medication management tools are being implemented to better patient care after discharge. These solutions can help reduce readmissions and costs, improve patient satisfaction, and facilitate a smooth transition from hospital to home. In addition, they can address health issues like fall-related injuries and medication-related adverse events. read more.

Making us laugh this week:

AgingHere Referral Program

Today’s Sponsor: Mastering Medicare (MasteringMedicare.net)

Listen to Mastering Medicare Podcast Episode 20: Medicare Advantage and Delegated Medical Group Deep Dive with Alex Mohseni

AgingHere Inspirational Quotes

The privilege of caring for the elderly is a gift that allows us to witness the strength of the human spirit and the resilience of the human heart. Let us approach each day with gratitude and dedication to making their journey as meaningful and comfortable as possible.