VNSNY, Contessa Join Amazon-Backed Home Health Coalition

Moving Health Home — the new provider coalition formed in early March dedicated to advancing home-based care in the United States — has landed seven new members.

The Washington, D.C.-based industry group announced Friday that Compassus, UPMC, U.S. Medical Management, the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY), Advocate Aurora Health, Contessa Health and Vituity have joined its ranks. Founding members already included Amazon Care, Home Instead Senior Care, Elara Caring and several other in-home care titans.

The addition of VNSNY gives Moving Health Home support from the largest not-for-profit home- and community-based health care organization in the country, while UPMC brings its $9 billion integrated global health enterprise to the table.

“For years, UPMC has provided home health and supportive services right in our patients’ homes, whether post-hospitalization or part of maintaining ongoing independence,” Deborah Brodine, president of UPMC Senior Services, said in a statement. “We are pleased to join a coalition that will advocate to expand the options available to our patients and members, to provide home-based alternatives, enabled by technology and new financing models.”

Advocate Aurora Health’s decision to hop on board the Moving Health Home train isn’t surprising, considering the recent home care acquisition executed by its investment arm.

Advocate Aurora Enterprises announced April 1 that it had acquired Senior Helpers, a Maryland-based home care franchise company with more than 320 franchised and corporate-owned locations in 44 states, plus Canada and Australia.

“Advocate Aurora Health’s longstanding focus on value-based care has driven innovative care delivery models that help patients remain in their homes,” Denise Keefe, the Midwest-based health system’s president of continuing health, said. “Our recognition that home is a key clinical site has led to transformational programs and services and aligns with Moving Health Home’s mission and commitment.”

Moving Health Home would have likely formed regardless of the current health landscape, but COVID-19 has drastically accelerated the need for more home-based care advocacy, its leaders previously told Home Health Care News.

The diverse organization has already started advocating for regulatory and reimbursement policies that take advantage of the home environment as a broad care delivery venue. That likely includes the development of policies that support hospital-at-home models, with Contessa and another member, DispatchHealth, both operating in the in-home acute care sphere.

“Contessa is built on the belief that patients heal better, and faster, at home and these care models can be scaled rapidly with health system partners,” Contessa CEO Travis Messina said. “We are honored to join forces with the most respected names in home care delivery to increase awareness for the necessary policy changes.”

Moving Health Home is reportedly the brainchild of Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm Sirona Strategies, which primarily lobbies federal health agencies and has worked with other companies like Aledade and Magellan Health.