Health Homes 101
Navigating the current health care system can be difficult for relatively healthy Medicaid recipients and even more so for enrollees who have high-cost and complex chronic conditions that drive a high volume of high cost inpatient episodes.
Appropriately accessing and managing services through improved care coordination and service integration is essential in controlling future health care costs and improving health outcomes.
What is a Health Home?
A Health Home is a care management service model whereby all of an individual’s caregivers communicate with one another so that all of a patient’s needs are addressed in a comprehensive manner. This is done primarily through a “care manager” who oversees and provides access to all of the services an individual needs to assure that they receive everything necessary to stay healthy, out of the emergency room and out of the hospital. Health records are shared among providers so that services are not duplicated or neglected.
Health Home services are provided through a network of organizations – providers, health plans and community-based organizations. When all the services are considered collectively they become a virtual “Health Home.”
Click Here to watch a quick video to learn more about Health Home services
Who is Eligible to be in a Children’s Health Home?
Children from birth to age 21 must be enrolled in Medicaid AND meet eligibility criteria by having two or more chronic health conditions (list of chronic conditions) OR one of the following single qualifying conditions:
- HIV/AIDS
- Serious Emotional Disturbance
- Complex Trauma
- Sickle Cell Disease
Potential enrollees must also demonstrate that they would benefit from Health Home Care Management Services. CMA Provider Name has experts on staff that will work with you to determine if a child is eligible.
What does a Children’s Health Home Do?
Through a Care Manager a Children’s Health Home provides:
- Comprehensive Care Management
- Care Coordination and Health Promotion
- Comprehensive Transitional Care
- Individual and Family Support
- Referral to Community and Social Support Services
Key Point of Contact
We understand families spend countless hours on the phone being transferred from department to department trying to get critical answers and information regarding your child’s services. When you enroll in a Health Home, your Care Manager becomes your key point of contact in managing the services for your child.
Service Coordination
Critical to a healthy child is ensuring each service provider works together and always in the best interest of the child. A family’s Care Manager will have access to information on each service their child is receiving, enabling them to stay in constant communication and eliminating redundancy of service. The vast network also provides linkages to related services such as Adult Health Homes and many more.
Compassion
Our Care Manager is an independent position that works for you. Following the CHHUNY model of care, this position strives to learn about the unique needs of each family and work with them to make the most appropriate decisions for the family.
Advantages of the CHHUNY Network
Families have the choice to select from a number of approved Children’s Health Homes authorized by the New York State Department of Health. The CHHUNY network is New York State’s largest with over 91 agencies and currently serving 55 of the 61 counties in New York State. This expansive network not only gives families access to a long list of providers and care managers but the Care Management services can travel with a family if they move.