Industry
UnitedHealth HouseCalls Program Reduces Hospitalizations by 5%, ER Visits by 4%
UnitedHealth Group reported that its HouseCalls in-home health program resulted in up to 5% fewer inpatient stays and 4% fewer emergency room visits for older adults with chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension in the year following their visit. The findings come from an external analysis of initial program results announced Tuesday. The program targets Medicare Advantage and dual-eligible beneficiaries with in-home preventive visits. Results suggest potential value for managed care organizations exploring home-based interventions to reduce acute care utilization among high-risk populations.
Why it mattersThe documented utilization reductions provide benchmark data for Medicaid MCOs evaluating home-based care models for dual-eligible and long-term services and supports populations, particularly as states increasingly require or incentivize alternatives to institutional care.