The joint venture will use telemedicine, in-home providers, and care management oversight to provide 'all essential elements of inpatient care in the home.'
Highmark Health and Contessa are partnering to provide patients with "hospital-quality care in the comfort and convenience of their homes," the two companies said in a joint press release.
The joint venture, Home Recovery Care LLC, will use telemedicine, in-home providers, and care management oversight that the two companies claim will provide "all essential elements of inpatient care in the home."
The model is available now for some Highmark commercial plans in western Pennsylvania, and will be made available to all plan members and Medicare Advantage members in that region starting on January 1, 2020. The model may soon expand into West Virginia and Delaware.
"Creating a value-based experience that enables patients and families to heal in the home is a priority for Highmark Health," said Monique Reese, senior vice president, Home and Community Care for Pittsburgh-based Highmark Health.
"Through the Home Recovery Care Model, Allegheny Health Network will provide high-quality in-home services such as home care, home infusion, and durable medical equipment," she said.
Under the Home Recovery Care model, patients are monitored for 30 days to ensure they are sticking with physician-devised care plans, and attending follow-up appointments with primary care physicians and other specialists.
"This new collaboration with Contessa enables us to deliver on Highmark Health's mission to create a remarkable customer experience," said Highmark's Tony Farah, MD, chief medical and clinical transformation officer.
"We are laser focused on achieving the quadruple aim — to transform health care through proactively improving clinical outcomes and driving better patient and clinician experiences, thereby lowering total cost of care," he said.
“We are laser focused on achieving the quadruple aim — to transform health care through proactively improving clinical outcomes and driving better patient and clinician experiences, thereby lowering total cost of care.”
Tony Farah, MD, chief medical and clinical transformation officer, Highmark Health
John Commins is the news editor for HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Patients are monitored for 30 days to ensure they are sticking with physician-devised care plans, and attending follow-up appointments.
The model will be made available to all plan members and Medicare Advantage members in central and western Pennsylvania starting on Jan. 1.