Volume 10, Number 33 — August  18, 2021

Dear Healthcare at Home Colleague,

This week, I covered the official launch of the home health and home care portion of the Health Resources Services Administration grant I have been telling you about. On August 16, final details of the program were decided, the telephone support team completed its training, NAHC signed on as a partner, and the first multi-state home care agency to register to receive COVID vaccine cash rewards confirmed its enthusiastic participation. (That press release will not go out until Monday, and I'll tell you all about that organization then.) In the meantime, do not delay. You really want to participate in this grant early because it will end on November 30 or when funds run out, whichever comes first. Here are the exciting program details:

• Early feedback indicates as few as 30% of home care workers are vaccinated against COVID-19. Grant administrator "National Minority Health Association" is committed to helping home care solve this problem before turning its attention to unvaccinated community members.
• More and more states are announcing they will require in-home caregivers and nurses to be vaccinated.
• The NMHA won this grant because of their strategy to use home care workers as "trusted messengers with trusted messages," and to distribute grant funds to patients/clients, in-home workers, and the agencies they work for.
• Every shot in every arm will generate a reward, which will be paid with a multiplier effect, with patients/clients receiving one or two payments, workers receiving multiple payments, and agencies receiving multiples of multiple payments.
• Your unvaccinated workers can register as a worker, AND as a patient/client. When they get a shot, they receive both payments. In the case of the two-shot protocol vaccines, this will total $150!
• The agency can promote its participation and the rewards available, making itself a magnet for new applicants.
• Participation includes one year membership in the National Minority Health Association.

To participate, the order of events matters. First, the agency/employer registers and gets an ID number and QR code. Then their employees register under their employer's ID and get their own ID, an extension of the agency ID. Lastly, the workers share their ID with their patients/clients and help them to register under their account. After they get a shot, they can upload an image of their vaccination card, and everyone receives their rewards.

Look for our special edition next week. Along with the announcement of the grant's first multi-state participating agency, it will include a link to the official web site. Can't wait? You can call a grant "Program Navigator" now to have your questions answered. 877-770-NMHA (6642)

IN THIS WEEK'S NEWS

We have spoken with a number of people who expressed surprise at Honor's acquisition of Home Instead. So we asked them. Our lead article this week features our interview with an Honor spokesperson who explained the reasoning behind the creation of this large, new organization. Also, though it is old news by now, we reprint the official news release about the acquisition.

Staff writer Darcey Trescone reports on a new initiative from the CMS Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. She writes that they will be testing the Million Hearts® Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Model, which will be popularly knows as "Million Hearts 2022."

It has long been known that daily contact with a home health patient or a home care client improves patient/client satisfaction and outcomes. We found a company that will do it for you. With a staff of 900 nurses, they will call your patients every day and let you know when they require attention between visits. Read our interview with the founding CEO of Coretex Health.

Lastly, do not forget to join the effort to develop a "state of the industry" report. Look below to our "Most Read Articles" section and click on last week's "Major Themes Announced..." article for details on how to join the study.

Next week: Look for our special edition with the URL for agencies and their workers to register. It will include a bonus interview with MatrixCare's Nick Knowlton, their interoperability specialist and the board chair of CommonWell. We caught up with Nick at HIMSS and learned about the latest developments in the efforts to extend patient data sharing with post-acute care providers.

Have a great week. Keep making a difference!

Honor and Home Instead CEOs Offer Insights into Acquisition
Company growth, employee satisfaction, improved technology, all goals behind Honor's Home Instead acquisition.

Cortex Puts 900 Nurses at Your Service
Daily phone calls to HHA patients improves outcomes, reduces hospitalizations, and gives weary nurses a way to work from home.

Million Hearts® Results of Randomized Controlled Trial and Accepting Applications for 2022
The CMS Innovation Center, CMMI, is testing new payment and service delivery models to reduce program costs and enhance quality care. One program is the Million Hearts® Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Model (MH Model), which will continue as Million Hearts® 2022. Staff writer Darcey Trescone suggests post-acute providers discuss the opportunity with their hospital and health system referral partners.

Official Honor/Home Instead Announcement
Reprint of the 8/6/21 press release announcing Honor's acquisition of Home Instead.