Illinois part of Aetna pilot to bolster home healthcare workforce

Illinois is one of three states where Aetna Medicaid will launch a pilot to increase access to home healthcare for older adults and those with disabilities.

The insurer said it will collaborate with the National Alliance for Care at Home and MissionCare Collective to assess data trends and determine where targeted action is most needed to strengthen the direct care workforce and support providers.

Illinois providers participating in the pilot include Absolute Home Care Plus, All Ways Caring HomeCare, Family First Home Care, Interim Healthcare Services of Joliet, Sparta Community Hospital, and UW Health Swedish American Hospital in Rockford.

“Americans are living longer, and the persistent shortage of direct care workers is creating a significant healthcare gap for those that need it most,” Dr. Chris Jagmin, Aetna’s chief medical officer for Medicaid, said in a statement. “By bringing Aetna, the Alliance and MissionCare together, we can better identify actionable solutions to make a difference in the lives of older adults and those with disabilities.”

Participating providers will implement a workforce solution from MissionCare Collective designed to increase engagement and strengthen workforce support to address turnover across all roles in healthcare.

“We are always looking for ways to improve employee retention,” Lisa King, senior vice president of operations with All Ways Caring HomeCare. “We need innovative ideas and a scalable solution to retain homecare workers.”