SCAN Health Plan recently awarded the Alliance for Leadership and Education (ALE) a $2 million grant to facilitate aging in place for California’s most vulnerable seniors.
The not-for-profit health plans’ grant will fund the delivery of community-based home health services for Californians who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medi-Cal (Medicaid) through the state’s Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS) program. Medi-Cal beneficiaries must be enrolled into a Medi-Cal managed care program to receive CBAS.
“The healthcare environment is rapidly changing and is increasingly complex, especially for dual eligibles,” said Chris Wing, CEO of SCAN Health Plan, in a statement. “SCAN has a long history of serving the frail elderly, many of whom are dealing with multiple chronic conditions along with important lifestyle choices. That is why we are particularly pleased to fund the delivery of services that will help these seniors receive the support and resources they need to stay in their communities with dignity as they age.”
ALE’s community home health project’s goal is to expand on the CBAS model of care by connecting the traditional medical community with local services and support. CBAS will serve as the link between the two.
Program componenten will include adding specially trained nurses as health navigators in seven CBAS centers throughout California. The nurse navigators will be in charge of providing one-on-one, evidence-based patient assessment, education, and coaching to help patients successfully navigate the Medi-Cal and Medicare health delivery systems.
Nurse navigators will particularly focus on home visits, caregiver stress levels, and care transitions, when the risk for institutional placement is highest.
Linking dual eligibles with their families, the local medical community, and the health plan will create an extended health-home care team and provide high-risk adults with comprehensive, accessible care through shared information and unified decision making, says SCAN Health Plan.
“Our goal is to evolve the CBAS model to better integrate it within the larger health system,” said Lydia Missaelides, MHA, executive director of ALE. “We believe this project has significant potential for improving quality of care across the state for adults with complex health conditions, while reducing overall health costs.”
Written by Alyssa Gerace
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