Care Delivery Integration

Healthcare providers are adapting in response to technologies enabling remote work, staffing shortages, patient preferences, and the competitive landscape of inpatient care.

Family caregivers are critical to Hospital at Home programs’ success, yet current programs do not account for their needs. Inclusive and supportive policies will allow these new programs to truly meet the needs of both family caregivers and patients.

Anne Tumlinson shares personal insights in Health Affairs, “My experience supporting my father suggests that we have a long way to go before our payment systems and benefit designs are equipped to deliver on the benefits of healthcare at home”

In response to Congress’ Request for Information to improve experiences for dual eligible individuals, ATI Advisory suggests key elements that would advance programmatic Medicare-Medicaid integration.

A total of 5.8 million Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 and older live in seniors housing and nursing homes. Understanding the characteristics and experiences of these individuals, as well as older adults living in private residences, provides context for industry leaders and policymakers working to meet the health and well-being needs of a growing number of older adults.

Long term care operators face a daunting array of challenges as the U.S. emerges from the pandemic. The workforce shortage has evolved from a near-term disruption to “getting back to normal” to a long-term existential crisis for many providers. As ATI’s work with leading senior care organizations across the country highlights, the right path forward depends on market conditions and the organization’s mission and capabilities.

Senior living communities are positioned to provide social opportunities that help residents stay physically and mentally well while reducing isolation and health expenditures.

The care needs of those living in independent or assisted living surpass the needs of those in traditional private housing, often resulting in higher utilization and spending. Silos between communities and services create barriers to integration.

Ensuring the healthcare system is prepared to meet the behavioral health needs of Medicare beneficiaries is critical as research suggests psychological distress increased among older adults and low-income groups during the early days of the pandemic.

Laura Benzing discusses the need for diverse and innovative approaches to addressing mental health, given the strong overlap between mental health and other structural and social determinants of health.

Future Medicare Advantage policy must consider more deliberate opportunities to support person-centeredness, to recognize the outsized role that family caregivers play, and to integrate with Medicaid to promote equitable access and health outcomes.

Ensuring equitable and integrated care for beneficiaries with mental health conditions requires a whole-person approach. Recent bipartisan congressional interest in the behavioral health space signals that change is both necessary and coming.

ATI's Kimberly Smathers talks with Modern Healthcare about a study on veteran tele-psychotherapy and utilization, "The findings seem promising for reducing the rural disparity in suicide, considering the increased rates of suicide in rural areas."