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MEALS ON WHEELS AND HEALTHCARE

MEALS ON WHEELS AND HEALTHCARE

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    BILLIONS OF VISITS. MILLIONS IN SAVINGS.

    IMPROVING HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR VULNERABLE SENIORS AND
    THE HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE THEM

    A nutritious meal is only the start of the value Meals on Wheels can deliver to keep your most vulnerable members healthy.

    For nearly 50 years, Meals on Wheels has touched the lives of millions of seniors, providing them with the nutrition they need and human contact they desire. But the benefits of this care and compassion go far beyond, driving notable improvements in their health and your bottom line.

    Staff and volunteers from the nationwide Meals on Wheels network are the “eyes and ears” in the homes of your most at-risk members. Put us to work to observe firsthand any changes in their physical or mental conditions. Learn more about our services here.

    WE IDENTIFY RISKS BEFORE THEY BECOME PROBLEMS;
    ADDRESS PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY BECOME HEALTH ISSUES;
    AND SOLVE HEALTH ISSUES BEFORE THEY BECOME CATASTROPHIC AND COSTLY.

    SHARE IN THE TRUST WE'VE EARNED

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    When Meals on Wheels knocks on the door, vulnerable seniors open it with a smile. Being invited into the homes of millions of the nation’s most high-risk seniors and disabled individuals is an honor and privilege. It’s also the first and one of the most effective lines of defense in avoiding additional healthcare costs.

    Every visit comes with a nutritious meal created to address the specific health conditions of the senior, a safety check around the house and an assessment of any changes that might impact future medical needs. This can mean the difference between independent living at home and an unwelcome transfer to a costly long-term care facility.

    CARING IS COST-EFFECTIVE

    While Meals on Wheels feeds both the body and soul, it also creates a profound effect on lowering healthcare costs. One in four of today’s seniors lives alone, increasing their chances of high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. Meals on Wheels can be a valuable asset for healthcare providers and insurers by helping to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations, reducing hospital readmissions and post-discharge needs through daily nutrition, socialization and safety checks.

    In fact, 81% of the people we serve say Meals on Wheels improves their health. Now multiply that over the hundreds of thousands of home visits we make every week, and the number of healthier and happier seniors adds up in your favor.

    Healthcare providers are continually looking to deliver efficient and cost-saving services, and Meals on Wheels can bring our special brand of service to your senior members.

    IT'S WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY.

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    OUR SERVICES AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

    We’re able to tap into our nationwide network of local, community-based programs to serve virtually any geography in the country. Choose between the services below, or let us customize a plan to meet your exact needs.


    • Long-term preventative services, including nutrition, socialization, safety checks and connections to community services. 

    • Short-term post-discharge services, including nutrition, socialization and safety checks. Customizable depending on the needs of the provider.

    HEALTHCARE PARTNER NEWS

    HUMANA AND MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA TEAM UP TO PROVIDE FOOD AND SOCIAL CONNECTIONS TO MEDICARE MEMBERS

    Nov 19, 2018
    In-person meal deliveries and regular social visits are benefits on certain Medicare Advantage plans in Richmond, Virginia; Louisville, Kentucky; and Tampa, Florida

    LOUISVILLE, Ky.--()--
    Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) and Meals on Wheels America are teaming up to provide in-person delivery of warm meals, social visits and safety checks, as a benefit and a means to positively impact the health of Humana Medicare Advantage (MA) members on select plans in Richmond, Virginia; Louisville, Kentucky; and Tampa, Florida.

    The two organizations are launching a benefit focused on those living with multiple chronic conditions and more vulnerable Humana MA members in special needs plans (SNPs), who can access this benefit after an in-patient hospital or skilled nursing facility (SNF) stay, or to help manage certain chronic conditions. There are about 6,000 members eligible for the benefit, which will launch January 1, 2019.

    The goal of the intervention is to improve health and reduce hospital readmissions among this high-risk population by providing access to nutritious food and addressing loneliness. Additional benefits include access to a Friendly Visitor program. Under this program, if a Humana Care Manager determines the MA member needs additional in-home support, a volunteer visits for one-hour weekly for up to 13 weeks to engage in dialogue, companionship and assist with light chores.

    “This is a wonderful opportunity to improve health by providing interaction and access to nutritious food,” said Caraline Coats, Vice President, Bold Goal, Office of Population Health at Humana. “Social determinants of health – like food insecurity, loneliness and social isolation – can exacerbate the impact chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, chronic kidney disease and depression can have on health. By thinking holistically about the needs of members, we can develop comprehensive programs to overcome the barriers preventing them from achieving their best health.”

    Louisville, Tampa and Richmond are Humana Bold Goal communities, where the company is working with local physician practices and community organizations to address physical and mental health conditions, as well as social determinants and health-related social needs. Members in eligible plans in the three pilot markets will be contacted by their Humana Care Manager after discharge from an in-patient hospital or SNF stay or when the member has certain chronic conditions. The member will receive information about the program and can elect to participate. Physicians can also refer their patients who are members of these MA plans to the program through their Humana Care Manager.

    “The implications of multiple chronic conditions and longer healing cycles, coupled with the social isolation that often accompanies old age, make it a challenge to ensure the health and well-being of high-risk seniors,” said Lucy Theilheimer, Chief Strategy and Impact Officer, Meals on Wheels America. “Meals on Wheels programs’ ability to act as ‘eyes and ears’ in the home align well with Humana’s Bold Goal efforts, and together, we can facilitate the delivery of services that improve health outcomes and promote independence among a particularly vulnerable population.”

    Elements of the program include:

    Meal Delivery, Social Visit and Safety CheckParticipant receives a daily warm meal and a chilled/frozen meal, Monday through Friday, for 20 days post-acute and/or 10 days per eligible chronic condition, along with a brief safety check and social visit, conducted by the volunteer who delivers the meal.

    Friendly VisitorQualifying members experiencing loneliness can choose to receive a weekly one-hour extended visit for up to 13 weeks from a volunteer who will engage in conversation and help with light chores.

    About Humana
    Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) is committed to helping our millions of medical and specialty members achieve their best health. Our successful history in care delivery and health plan administration is helping us create a new kind of integrated care with the power to improve health and well-being and lower costs. Our efforts are leading to a better quality of life for people with Medicare, families, individuals, military service personnel, and communities at large.

    To accomplish that, we support physicians and other health care professionals as they work to deliver the right care in the right place for their patients, our members. Our range of clinical capabilities, resources and tools – such as in-home care, behavioral health, pharmacy services, data analytics and wellness solutions – combine to produce a simplified experience that makes health care easier to navigate and more effective.

    More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at www.humana.com, including copies of:

    • Annual reports to stockholders
    • Securities and Exchange Commission filings
    • Most recent investor conference presentations
    • Quarterly earnings news releases and conference calls
    • Calendar of events
    • Corporate Governance information

    Additional Information:
    Humana is a Medicare Advantage HMO organization and a Coordinated Care chronic condition special needs plan with a Medicare contract. Humana is also a Coordinated Care Plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the Kentucky and Florida Medicaid programs. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal.

    About Meals on Wheels America
    Meals on Wheels America is the oldest and largest national organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs across the country that are dedicated to addressing senior isolation and hunger. This network exists in virtually every community in America and, along with more than two million staff and volunteers, delivers the nutritious meals, friendly visits and safety checks that enable America's seniors to live nourished lives with independence and dignity. By providing funding, leadership, education, research and advocacy support, Meals on Wheels America empowers its local member programs to strengthen their communities, one senior at a time. For more information, or to find a Meals on Wheels provider near you, visit www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org.

    PRESS CONTACTS:
    Alan Player
    Humana Corporate Communications
    502-580-3031
    aplayer@humana.com

    Jenny Bertolette Young
    Meals on Wheels America
    571-339-1603
    jenny@mealsonwheelsamerica.org

    Meals on Wheels America

    AMERICA'S SENIORS NEED YOU

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    CONNECT WITH US


    To learn more about how Meals on Wheels Health and our nationwide network can provide cost-effective healthcare solutions, contact Ipyana Spencer, Chief Health Officer, Meals on Wheels Health.

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