By Valerie
VanBooven, RN BSN, Editor in Chief of HomeCareDaily.com | January
31, 2019
A major
component to growth within any industry for a product or service is
acknowledgment and recognition that it’s worthwhile. Home care has long been a
powerful asset for elderly and disabled men and women who need help at
home.
In recent
years, though, the value of home care has been increasing, especially as the
federal government is placing more pressure on hospitals to reduce readmission
rates. This has led to a careful study of the various services and supports
patients might require once discharged and sent home.
Now,
insurance providers and other companies are beginning to fully recognize just
how beneficial the right home care supports can be. This has been reflected in
coverage options as well as new flexibility for Medicare Advantage plans.
According
to the Houston Chronicle, in an op-ed piece titled, Health care takes place beyond the doctor’s office
[Opinion], written by Ken Satrom:
“We’ve
seen a change in policies at the federal level, too. For example, the Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently announced more flexibility for
health care companies that offer Medicare Advantage plans to provide benefits
that aren’t traditional medical services, including transportation to a
doctor’s appointment, home-delivered meals, and allowances to purchase
assistive devices at home.
Health
insurance providers have moved swiftly in response, and our company is an
example of that. Amerigroup Texas Medicare believes that removing social
barriers to better overall health is critical for everyone in our state. We
recently announced that individuals enrolled in some of
Amerigroup’s 2019 Medicare Advantage plans can select one of six services that
best fits their health care needs at no additional cost.”
While some
of the focus on these benefits might involve visiting nurses, or home health
care providers, home care aides are also being viewed as far more valuable than
they might have in the past. This can be a great boon to the home
care industry as a whole, so long as agencies and companies embrace a
stronger networking opportunity with doctors, hospitals, and other medical
providers.
There are
numerous factors that impact a person’s health and well-being. Access to
quality medical care is one of them and having the right information, right
physical and emotional support at home, and getting the right balance of
exercise and nutrition are just more players on the field.
As more
companies recognize the value of home care support, it may lead to greater
opportunities for care among those who need it most.
No comments:
Post a Comment