Connecticut could save $657 million by 2025 if the state continues its policy of reducing institutionalized long-term healthcare services in favor of more home- and community-based care.
That’s according to a report released today by the Connecticut Institute for the 21st Century that was conducted by its research partner, the Connecticut Economic Resource Center.
The state has worked since 2005 to keep more long-term care patients in non-institutional or home- and community-based care settings (HCBS).
This policy is considered to be the best option for the patient and most cost-effective way to provide the highest quality health care, according to a news release from CT 21. The shift toward home care will assume greater importance for the state’s budget as Baby Boomers age, which will increase long-term care demands, the report said.
The percentage of long-term care patients receiving home care services has increased from 53 percent to 60 percent relative to those utilizing institutional care since 2009, the report said.
The state’s goal is to have 75 percent of long-term care patients in non-institutional settings by 2025, which would save the state $657 million between now and then compared to costs at the current client ratio, assuming a constant number of recipients, the report said.
To ensure Connecticut achieves the best results, the report recommends: establishing a long-term care coordinator, broadening the scope of long-term care planning, developing plans to increase the size of long-term care workforce, expanding the long-term care awareness campaign, continuing the process of restructuring provider reimbursement rates and developing a single source of data.
The report is on CT 21’s web site, www.ct21.org.
