Evolve's Landmark White Paper on Home Safety: A Pathway to Healthcare Savings
Evolve has made significant strides in the field of home safety with the recent release of its first official white paper titled,
"Home Safety: Preventative Care Starts with a Safe Home." This comprehensive analysis is not just about creating safer living spaces; it dives deep into how effective home modifications can lead to substantial cost reductions in healthcare expenses while enhancing patient outcomes.
The Core Findings
The report is based on an evaluation by California's Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) regarding the
CalAIM Community Supports initiative. Throughout the analysis, it becomes evident that targeted
Environmental Accessibility Adaptations—also known as home modifications—are providing crucial opportunities to enhance long-term services and supports while yielding financial benefits for Medicaid and Medicare Advantage plans across the nation.
Statistical Insights
The paper outlines remarkable statistics from California's home modification program that underscore its effectiveness:
- - A 55.4% reduction in inpatient service costs
- - A 43.0% reduction in emergency room service costs
- - An 8.7% reduction in PMPM long-term care costs
These metrics establish home modifications as not merely an additional benefit, but rather, a pivotal clinical intervention that can prevent highly expensive healthcare episodes before they occur. The white paper translates this data into an actionable framework that any Medicaid or Medicare plan can adopt across the country.
A National Blueprint
Although the findings are based on California's experience, the implications are designed for nationwide applicability. As health plans strive to meet the rising needs of aging populations amid
workforce shortages and
budget constraints, home modifications emerge as a scalable solution. The paper presents home modifications as a strategy to:
- - Reduce the reliance on high-cost ER and inpatient services
- - Improve member safety and functional independence
- - Support the expansion of Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)
- - Strengthen care coordination across diverse communities
A Shift in Perspective
According to Spike Cheever, President at Evolve,
“Home safety isn’t an add-on benefit; it’s preventative medicine.” The findings from California resonate a message to frontline clinicians and health plan leaders: with adequate support at home, healthcare outcomes can drastically change for the better, significantly affecting health management and financial health for plans.
As federal and state regulators pivot towards
HCBS-first models, this white paper serves as a timely resource for Medicaid directors and health plan leaders facing the reality of rising long-term services and supports (LTSS) costs. Evolve's analysis lays out arguments that home modifications can significantly enhance outcomes while simultaneously alleviating financial pressures.
Conclusion
Evolve's commitment to improving home safety through clinically informed home modifications manifests as an invaluable resource for health plans and state agencies alike. It showcases how focused interventions can lead to happier, healthier lives for members while simultaneously driving down healthcare costs. The full report, complete with data insights and a recommended implementation framework, is available for all stakeholders committed to enhancing care outcomes.
View Evolve's White Paper for a complete understanding of how improving home safety is not just a preference but a necessity in modern healthcare management.