Humana Expands Home Healthcare Model to Serve Virginia

To decrease the number of complications experienced in home healthcare, Humana expanded the boundaries of onehome, which will now provide various post-acute needs such as infusion care, nursing, and occupational therapy to residents of Virginia.

Humana executives emphasized the significance that this expansion will have in extending Humana’s value-based care capabilities.

“Humana’s acquisition of onehome in 2021 and expansion into Virginia this year further advances the company’s commitment to building our Home Solutions business and value-based offerings,” Andrew Agwunobi, MD, president of Humana’s Home Solutions business, explained in the press release.

onehome provides integrated home-based services in a full-risk, value-based care model.  While considering the needs of patients, providers, hospitals, and health plans, onehome coordinates a range of post-acute needs, including infusion care, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and durable medical equipment.

Agwunobi also emphasized that quality and integration are key drivers of this expansion.

“There is a tremendous need for a care model that provides high quality, fully-integrated care in the home at reduced cost. Humana’s value-based approach aims to deliver on that promise and on our mission of bringing healing home,” Agwunobi said in the press release.

In the last several years, Humana has made various efforts to simplify care for members and providers as the payer continues to provide care for a growing clientele base. The process of broadening onehome to serve people residing in Virginia will ultimately add 220 employees to the organization.

“onehome’s value-based approach relieves patients and physicians from the burden of dealing with multiple providers of home health services, including medication and equipment, which is the common experience for those currently navigating the extremely fragmented home health industry,” Ramon Falero, chief executive officer and co-founder of onehome, said in a press release.

“There’s a tremendous benefit for seniors in receiving better coordinated home care services that improve their health and their quality of life.”

The expansion of onehome into Virginia will initially involve the counties of Richmond, Roanoke, and southern Virginia. However, the payer has already hinted at its intentions to further extend the program’s reach in the several months following this expansion. Ultimately, Humana Medicare Advantage plan members will be able to access onehome care services to help address their home healthcare needs.

In the past, Humana has made various efforts to care for more people while growing its identity, such as when Humana initially obtained onehome from WayPoint Capital Partners. At the time, payer executives expressed that Humana's goal was to increase the prevalence of value-based care within home healthcare services.

In addition to this, Humana will also gain the ability to expand its home healthcare model to more people, support access to durable medical equipment, and improve access to utilization management systems.

In June 2022, Humana added 14 states to its CenterWell Home Health model while continuously using its home healthcare program, Kindred at Home. In increasing the number of states served, Humana also made changes such as rebranding facility interiors and changing uniforms and branded materials.

Humana is not alone in seeking to expand its home healthcare offerings due to the high demand for these services. Personalized, in-home care can make a significant difference for members who require chronic disease management.