#USA #New York #FAIR Health #John A. Hartford #Older Adults

FAIR Health's New Initiative for Older Adults

FAIR Health, a leading nonprofit organization focused on improving healthcare accessibility, is thrilled to announce that it has received a substantial grant from The John A. Hartford Foundation. This funding will enable FAIR Health to significantly expand its price-informed shared decision-making tools available to older adults and their caregivers. Through a three-year project, FAIR Health aims to forge partnerships with ten age-friendly clinical institutions to implement these resources in various clinical environments.

The initiative builds upon FAIR Health's commitment to enhancing healthcare for older adults and aims to make valuable decision-making tools accessible at critical points of care. The goal is to empower older patients and their caregivers by facilitating shared decision-making—an approach that encourages collaboration among patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers. This is particularly significant in an age where making informed healthcare choices can lead to improved satisfaction and lower costs.

Enhancing Shared Decision-Making

Shared decision-making is a pivotal process where patients communicate their preferences and values regarding their healthcare treatment, influenced by clinical evidence supported by healthcare professionals. This initiative aligns with the essential elements of "what matters" to patients, especially considering the unique factors affecting older individuals. Under earlier initiatives supported by The John A. Hartford Foundation, FAIR Health successfully developed specialized tools that integrate clinical and price information tailored for the needs of older adults, seriously ill patients, and minority communities.

Expanding on successful collaborations with Age-Friendly Health Systems (AFHS), this new grant will allow FAIR Health to launch a revitalized campaign named "Healthy Decisions for Healthy Aging" in English as well as a culturally sensitive campaign in Spanish. These efforts will help spread awareness of the resources available from FAIR Health for Older Adults nationwide, aiming to ensure that older individuals can access crucial information for better decision-making regarding their healthcare options.

Making Healthcare Accessible and Affordable

By offering price-informed tools and resources, FAIR Health seeks to fill a notable gap in the decision-making process of older adults and their families. The need for accessible healthcare information is paramount, particularly in light of rising costs associated with healthcare. According to Ray Campbell, President of FAIR Health, the organization is deeply appreciative of the support from The John A. Hartford Foundation and believes this initiative could significantly influence clinical practices and policies surrounding older adult care.

Rani Snyder, President of The John A. Hartford Foundation, remarked on the importance of delivering price-informed shared decision-making tools within age-friendly care environments. Providing older adults and their families with decision aids that include cost information is crucial for enabling informed healthcare choices that reflect individual priorities.

Accessing Free Tools for Older Adults

FAIR Health invites older adults and caregivers to explore the newly developed and accessible tools available at FAIR Health for Older Adults. Additionally, a Spanish version of the resources is available to cater to a broader audience.

Healthcare professionals interested in utilizing these shared decision-making tools with their patients can reach out to Gee Kim, FAIR Health’s Clinical Liaison, for more details. It is essential to note that while these decision aids serve as valuable resources, they do not constitute medical advice or treatment; rather, they aim to enhance dialogue between patients and healthcare providers, empowering the former in their care journey.

FAIR Health is proud to operate a national platform that collects and maintains the largest repository of commercial healthcare claims data. This data collection, growing at an astonishing rate of four billion claims each year, serves various stakeholders, including healthcare providers, insurers, and policymakers—all working towards better healthcare quality and affordability for all.

Visit fairhealth.org for more information about FAIR Health and its ongoing efforts to facilitate informed healthcare choices for the nation’s older adults.