The Independence at Home Demonstration pilot program for providing primary care to patients in their homes has saved $7.8m for its second year running, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). In a press release, CMS said that more than half of all visits by doctors and nurses are now completed outside of an office, with nearly one million people having been served through this program. The program was designed to demonstrate the way that a multidisciplinary approach to home health care could help beneficiaries while reducing costs. Given that over 90% of older Americans have at least one chronic condition, the need to tailor healthcare to an aging population has grown more urgent. Only 12% of homebound patients currently receive the primary care services they need.
The Independence at Home Demonstration pilot program for providing primary care to patients in their homes has saved $7.8m for its second year running, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Saving $746 per patient on average, the program covers 15 practices and approximately 10,000 beneficiaries with home-based primary care services. The program was designed to demonstrate the way that a multidisciplinary approach to home health care could help beneficiaries while reducing costs. Given that over 90% of older Americans have at least one chronic condition, the need to tailor healthcare to an aging population has grown more urgent. Only 12% of homebound patients currently receive the primary care services they need.