US senior national healthcare provider Medicare has reported 12,000 yearly savings due to a new pilot scheme, named Independence at Home. The scheme sees doctors increase house visits, thus reducing hospital and nursing home stays. To join up to the scheme, practices will need to make house calls to at least 200 Medicare patients, and be available to call 24/7. Though doctors performing house calls can only visit 5-7 patients per day, the scheme allows physicians to get a more realistic and intimate insight into how the patient lives, and can arrange for Meals on Wheels to deliver food or other social services. The pilot scheme is authorized until October 2017, though advocates are looking for it to be rolled out nationwide.
US senior national healthcare provider Medicare has reported up to $25m yearly savings due to a new pilot scheme, named Independence at Home. The scheme sees doctors increase house visits, thus reducing hospital and nursing home stays. To join up to the scheme, practices will need to make house calls to at least 200 Medicare patients, and be available to call 24/7. Though doctors performing house calls can only visit 5-7 patients per day, the scheme allows physicians to get a more realistic and intimate insight into how the patient lives, and can arrange for Meals on Wheels to deliver food or other social services. The pilot scheme is authorized until October 2017, though advocates are looking for it to be rolled out nationwide.