Hartford health insurer Aetna and rehabilitation-care provider Genesis HealthCare have teamed up to launch a series of programs aimed at reducing costly hospital readmissions.
As part of the new program Genesis, which operates six Connecticut post-acute care centers and assisted living facilities and over 200 nationwide, has enhanced their staffing, clinical care procedures and patient support.
For example, Aetna’s patients who are referred to Genesis HealthCare’s rehab facilities will now have primary care services available from Genesis-based doctors or nurse practitioners if needed.
Patients will not have to depend on their own primary care providers to stop by, instead the facility providers can deliver or coordinate needed care for complications that often lead to readmissions.
Patients also have increased access to rehabilitation services, including specializations in orthopedic, cardiac, pulmonary and transitional care.
More frequent therapy has been shown to help speed recovery and speed transition to home, especially for orthopedic and cardiac patients, officials said.
The program, which was started in the spring, is expected to decrease the number of patient readmissions from Genesis facilities by up to 20 percent over the next several years and save almost $2 million in additional medical costs annually, officials said.
