HealthSciences & Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts Form Partnership

 

The Boston-based Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts and HealthSciences Institute recently announced a partnership to deliver the Chronic Care Professional (CCP) training, certification and accreditation program to Massachusetts’ home health care agencies. The partnership follows alliances between HealthSciences Institute and other state home care associations—including Pennsylvania—to support state and federal health and chronic care improvement reforms. HealthSciences offers a partial tuition waiver scholarship program to participating associations. According to Pat Kelleher, Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts Executive Director, “CCP certification and accreditation build on the experience of home care providers. CCP demonstrates the readiness and preparation of home care to lead and partner with patients, family members, physician practices and hospitals in support of better chronic care.

On June 3rd, HealthSciences Institute and the Home Care Alliance kicked-off their partnership with a webinar introducing CCP and highlighting Massachusetts’ health and chronic care initiatives. Kelleher updated participants on key state initiatives including the 1.) Massachusetts Health Care Quality and Cost Council that aims to hold health care costs at no more than the unadjusted growth in GDP by 2012; 2.) Care Transitions Forum that aligns payment and performance measurement to maximize care coordination and transitions; 3.) Patient-Centered Medical Home initiative; 4.) Special Commission on Health Care Payment System to support global payments and quality rewards; 5.) STAAR to reduce hospital readmissions; and 6.) Preventable Hospital Readmission Data project which will publicly report on preventable readmission rates.

“The Massachusetts home care community brings the experience and infrastructure to close critical care gaps and support patients in daily treatment adherence and self-care,” said Dr. Blake Andersen, President & CEO of HealthSciences Institute. “Experts emphasize that formal training and preparation in the evidence-based strategies and interventions that support patient engagement, adherence and self-care—combined with experience—result in better patient and cost outcomes. HealthSciences Institute has previously partnered with agencies and associations in other states including Minnesota, Wisconsin and Vermont. In Montana, CCP staff accreditation is required for all contractors in that state’s Medicaid disease management program. Home care providers should contact their state home care association to determine participation status or program eligibility requirements.

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