State Providers of Home and Community Care

For a person to receive home and community care, there is a set of requirements. These requirements are made up of the physical, mental, and social needs of that person. There is also a commercial market that is available for these services. There is an appeals process that a person can use if he or she disagrees with the ICCP.

Physical, mental, and social needs of people

The physical, mental, and social needs of people in home and community care are complex. They require an integrative health and social care approach, as well as incentives and ongoing communication. These complex care needs are characterized by multimorbidity, cognitive impairments, social vulnerabilities, and functional impairments. However, the health care system often cannot meet the needs of these individuals.

A new study explores key care components for people with complex care needs. It gathered health and social care providers to discuss their perspectives on providing care to this population. It also provided a framework for the design of complex care.

The study included 23 health and social care providers and was funded by the

Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Health Services Research Fund. Expert panel sessions were held in February 2016 and each session included 10 health and social care providers. The patient vignettes discussed in the sessions were composite patient vignettes with significant health and social needs that were nearing discharge from hospital. These vignettes were used to guide the discussion on barriers to providing care to these populations.

Commercial market

As the health care sector undergoes a fundamental shift from communicable to noncommunicable diseases, the commercial market for home and community care solutions is poised to take off. Innovation is the name of the game, and new care modalities are attracting consumers. However, to reap the rewards, home and community care platforms must be differentiated, technology-enabled, and responsive to changing consumer needs. This is a tall order for any provider, but a worthy one to tackle.

A good example is Landmark Health, a company that is part of Optum's Home and Community platform. The company offers patients a variety of care options, from primary telehealth care to in-home dialysis. These services help reduce hospitalizations and medical costs by 15-25%. In addition, patients experience higher satisfaction, improved adherence to medication, and an overall better quality of life.

Another example is the "hospital at home" program, which allows acute and chronic patients to receive medical attention in their own homes. The program reduced medical expenses by about 30%, and reduced ER visits by about 15-20%.

Responsibilities of State providers

The responsibilities of a state provider in home and community care are many and varied. While the state may or may not be the primary provider of services, it is in the best interest of the service recipient to ensure that there is a solid plan in place that will keep the cost of care to a minimum. This means a mix of direct payments to the service recipient, supplemental payments to the state, and the creation of stateoperated programs that allow state residents to tap into the trove of resources available through state agencies.

In the past few years, the state of Maryland has launched a statewide initiative to improve access to home and community care for low-income residents of all ages. This program will provide an array of resources to assist families in making informed choices regarding the various services available in the state. This includes a consumer guide, home and community care brochure, and website.

Our range of services include home care, cleaning, overnight care, and travel assistance.