Medical Respite Care: Reducing Readmissions, LOS, and ED Visits of People Experiencing Homelessness Paula Crombie, LCSW, Director of Social Work Michael Ferry, LCSW, Senior Clinical Social Worker Alison Cunningham, MDiv, CEO
From Revolving Door to Recuperation Medical Respite fills the vacuum of post-hospital care for people experiencing homelessness, by providing benefit to: Patients: who now have a clean and caring place to recover after discharge Medicaid: through reduced spending The hospital: by reducing length of stay, re-visits, and re-admissions
Medical Respite at Columbus House Opened on October 7, 2013 12 individual rooms 24/7 staffing/supervision 3 meals daily Case management focusing on housing Patient navigation to help coordinating care Visiting nursing service includes medication management Transportation to appointments
The Story Behind the Success
Our Community Population of New Haven (2016): Approximately 130,000 people 3.6% of Connecticut s 3,576,452 residents New Haven s Homeless population: Average of 667 people (during past 6 years) 16.0% of Connecticut s 3,903 homeless individuals during 2016
Homelessness and YNHH We knew that many homeless individuals were coming to YNHH with complex medical and social needs, and suspected they were receiving a disproportionate amount of Medicaid and hospital resources: A higher level of care for more days, with More readmissions, and Many more Emergency Department revisits But how bad was it?
Here s What the Research Found Kelly Doran, MD RWJ Scholar 2012 Studied 113 homeless individuals over 30 days 70.3% returned to the ED during that time 50.8% were readmitted to inpatient care 3.0% were readmitted for Observation 75% of these readmissions occurred within 2 weeks Only 18.7% of Adult Medicaid patients were readmitted during this time
It Was Time to Advocate for Change A Task Force was formed with YNHH, Columbus House, and community partners Senator Toni Harp championed the bill Included in the state budget since 2013
Who Are the Patients?
Patients Assessed for Respite Care Fiscal Year Homeless Admissions Unique Patients (by MR#) Respite Applicants Respite Patients 2014 803 427 104 53 2015 693 406 100 64 2016 731 461 98 89 Three-Year Total 2249 1353 302 206
Age & Gender
Race & Ethnicity
% Individuals/ % Inpt Visits Chronic Illness Among Homeless 69% 82% 78% 72% Unique Undividuals Inpt Visits 69% 53% 40% 30% 26% 28% 31% 25% 21% 17% 10% 17% Diabetes Cardiac Asthma COPD Psych Tobacco Alcohol Subst Use 99% of N=461 individuals identified as homeless during 1+ YNHH visit in 2016 have CMS AHRQ-Defined Chronic Conditions. These 461 individuals were associated with 1,168 FY 2016 inpatient visits. Individuals with Diabetes represented 26% of total individuals, but were responsible for 30% of total inpatient visits.
How Does Medical Respite Work?
YNHH Workflow Identifying and Interviewing patients Social Work, Case Managers, and Columbus House staff collaborate on a plan Determine eligibility Transmitting the application Arrange for homecare services Arrange for medication management Verify insurance benefits Coordinating transition from YNHH to Medical Respite Review cases at weekly care team meetings
Columbus House Services Patient Navigation Connect patients to primary care Create medical service plan Case Management Create housing service plan Benefit applications SSI, Food Stamps, SAGA, Refer to employment specialist Refer to behavioral health services Transportation to appointments
What Are the Results?
Inpatient 30-Day Readmission Rates Pre-Respite Program Medicaid Goal 50.8% 18.7% Post-Respite Program 30.9% 30.5% 31.0% 25.4% 22.0% 16.7% 16.1% 15.7% 16.0% Homeless not going to Respite Homeless Discharged to Respite 2012 2014 2015 2016
Average Subsequent ED/Obs Visits per Index Discharge 2016 Reduced ED/Observation Re-Visits Homeless Not going to Respite Homeless Discharged to Respite Goal: Adult Medicaid
Inpatient Average LOS (days) Reduced Hospital Length of Stay 12.0 11.0 10.6 Homeless Disch to Respite 10.0 9.0 8.6 8.0 7.0 6.0 6.3 7.0 Medicaid Discharge to Homecare 7.1 6.6 5.0 4.0 2014 2015 2016 Average LOS reduction from 10.6 days in FY 2015 to 7.1 days in FY 2016 was associated with a $300,000 reduction in Direct Cost for the care of these patients.
Conservatively Medical Respite saves Medicaid $12,000* per patient *We estimate that on average each Medical Respite patient that completes at least two weeks in the program saves Medicaid between $12,000 and $25,000 across all Medicaid claims in the year following Respite.
The Secret to Success Housing
Reasons for Success Housing is Health Care Increased collaboration Increased commitment to staffing and resources Improved care YNHH as CAN intake site Faster, more efficient processes Intensive case management Innovation & taking risks
Next Steps Nursing on site at Columbus House Visiting physicians Securing resources Increasing consistency of care Expanding eligibility Continuous improvement
Thank You! Columbus House, Inc. Continuum Home Health, Inc. Cornell Scott Hill Health Center CT Department of Housing CT Department of Social Services National Health Care for the Homeless Council New England Home Care Partnership for Strong Communities Visiting Nurses of South Central Connecticut Yale New Haven Hospital Our New Haven Legislative Delegation
Medical Respite Care: Reducing Readmissions, LOS, and ED Visits of People Experiencing Homelessness Paula Crombie, LCSW, Director of Social Work Michael Ferry, LCSW, Senior Clinical Social Worker Alison Cunningham, MDiv, CEO