Humana and Meals on Wheels America Team up to Provide Food and Social Connections to Medicare Members

Business Wire

In-person meal deliveries and regular social visits are benefits on certain Medicare Advantage plans in Richmond, Virginia; Louisville, Kentucky; and Tampa, Florida

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) and Meals on Wheels America are teaming up to provide in-person delivery of warm meals, social visits and safety checks, as a benefit and a means to positively impact the health of Humana Medicare Advantage (MA) members on select plans in Richmond, Virginia; Louisville, Kentucky; and Tampa, Florida.

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The two organizations are launching a benefit focused on those living with multiple chronic conditions and more vulnerable Humana MA members in special needs plans (SNPs), who can access this benefit after an in-patient hospital or skilled nursing facility (SNF) stay, or to help manage certain chronic conditions. There are about 6,000 members eligible for the benefit, which will launch January 1, 2019.

The goal of the intervention is to improve health and reduce hospital readmissions among this high-risk population by providing access to nutritious food and addressing loneliness. Additional benefits include access to a Friendly Visitor program. Under this program, if a Humana Care Manager determines the MA member needs additional in-home support, a volunteer visits for one-hour weekly for up to 13 weeks to engage in dialogue, companionship and assist with light chores.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to improve health by providing interaction and access to nutritious food,” said Caraline Coats, Vice President, Bold Goal, Office of Population Health at Humana. “Social determinants of health – like food insecurity, loneliness and social isolation – can exacerbate the impact chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, chronic kidney disease and depression can have on health. By thinking holistically about the needs of members, we can develop comprehensive programs to overcome the barriers preventing them from achieving their best health.”

Louisville, Tampa and Richmond are Humana Bold Goal communities, where the company is working with local physician practices and community organizations to address physical and mental health conditions, as well as social determinants and health-related social needs. Members in eligible plans in the three pilot markets will be contacted by their Humana Care Manager after discharge from an in-patient hospital or SNF stay or when the member has certain chronic conditions. The member will receive information about the program and can elect to participate. Physicians can also refer their patients who are members of these MA plans to the program through their Humana Care Manager.

“The implications of multiple chronic conditions and longer healing cycles, coupled with the social isolation that often accompanies old age, make it a challenge to ensure the health and well-being of high-risk seniors,” said Lucy Theilheimer, Chief Strategy and Impact Officer, Meals on Wheels America. “Meals on Wheels programs’ ability to act as ‘eyes and ears’ in the home align well with Humana’s Bold Goal efforts, and together, we can facilitate the delivery of services that improve health outcomes and promote independence among a particularly vulnerable population.”

Elements of the program include:

Meal Delivery, Social Visit and Safety Check: Participant receives a daily warm meal and a chilled/frozen meal, Monday through Friday, for 20 days post-acute and/or 10 days per eligible chronic condition, along with a brief safety check and social visit, conducted by the volunteer who delivers the meal.

Friendly Visitor: Qualifying members experiencing loneliness can choose to receive a weekly one-hour extended visit for up to 13 weeks from a volunteer who will engage in conversation and help with light chores.

About Humana

Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) is committed to helping our millions of medical and specialty members achieve their best health. Our successful history in care delivery and health plan administration is helping us create a new kind of integrated care with the power to improve health and well-being and lower costs. Our efforts are leading to a better quality of life for people with Medicare, families, individuals, military service personnel, and communities at large.

To accomplish that, we support physicians and other health care professionals as they work to deliver the right care in the right place for their patients, our members. Our range of clinical capabilities, resources and tools – such as in-home care, behavioral health, pharmacy services, data analytics and wellness solutions – combine to produce a simplified experience that makes health care easier to navigate and more effective.

More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at www.humana.com, including copies of:

Annual reports to stockholders
Securities and Exchange Commission filings
Most recent investor conference presentations
Quarterly earnings news releases and conference calls
Calendar of events
Corporate Governance information

Additional Information:

Humana is a Medicare Advantage HMO organization and a Coordinated Care chronic condition special needs plan with a Medicare contract. Humana is also a Coordinated Care Plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the Kentucky and Florida Medicaid programs. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal.

About Meals on Wheels America

Meals on Wheels America is the oldest and largest national organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. This network exists in virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America's seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.

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