Home Telehealth (HT) Rapid Demonstration Project

Project Summary

To promote the broader adoption of home telehealth technology by enhancing the evidence of its clinical and cost effectiveness in the treatment of patients suffering from congestive heart failure and by driving policy change in Massachusetts and nationally.

Technology

Electronic House Call System

Targeted Locations

Eastern Massachusetts

Collaborators

Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, Atrius Health, and Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts

12-Month Goals

• Demonstrate clinical and financial benefits for the use of RPM technologies, specifically by reducing hospital readmissions.
• Create sustainable and replicable models of clinical practice and payment mechanisms for future expansion of RPM technology.
• Drive policy change to expand the use of RPM technology and associated clinical practice improvements in Massachusetts and nationally by developing actionable policy strategies, writing policy briefs to public and private policymakers, and working with BCBSMA to change reimbursement of RPM technologies.

Older Adult Population

1st year: 180 patients recently hospitalized for congestive heart failure.
5th year: 2,500 CHF patients in Atrius Health.

Setting/Provider Type

Integrated Delivery System

Measurable Outcomes

The project will be conducted as a case matched study comparing the Home Telehealth intervention to usual care. Primary outcome measures will focus on health care service utilization (number of hospitalizations, ED visits, ambulatory visits, phone encounters, SNF visits, home care visits, medication possession ratio) and total cost of care (patient out-of-pocket expenditures as well), while patient, caregiver and provider qualitative measures will be captured through multiple survey instruments. A robust return-on-investment analysis will also be conducted.

Replication, Dissemination Plan

The project will focus on identifying and addressing the existing barriers to use of HT and will work with a multi-stakeholder Advisory Group to develop and disseminate policy recommendations to enable broader adoption of the technology.

Sustainability Plan

The project partners will aid in the identification of effective clinical and financial models for the long-term use of HT beyond this project. With the successful demonstration, Atrius Health will expand the use of the technology to their entire CHF population and diabetic population.

Funding Request

$100,000

Matching Funds

$662,000