What Is A Health Home?
Circare has been designated a “Lead Health Home” by the New York State Department of Health. As a Lead Health Home, Circare is responsible for managing a network of providers and the provision of care management services to eligible enrollees in nine Central New York counties: Broome, Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga, Cortland, Chemung, Madison, Tompkins, and Tioga. Circare is one of four Lead Health Homes operating in partnership with the New York Care Coordination Program/Health Homes of Upstate New York (HHUNY) to bring Health Home services to 23 counties in western and central New York. Circare is also designated as a Care Management Agency, with a staff of care managers who provide core services to Health Home members.
Referral Process
Circare accepts referrals from the community including health care providers, community organizations, individuals and/or family members.
History of Health Homes
In 2010, the Affordable Care Act outlined a new option for states to provide Medicaid services to individuals with chronic conditions—Health Homes. Section 1945 was added to the Social Security Act and defined Health Home services as “comprehensive and timely high quality services”. The section also defined eligibility criteria and six services to be provided by designated Health Home providers.
- Comprehensive care management
- Care coordination and health promotion
- Comprehensive transitional care from inpatient to other settings, including appropriate follow-up
- Individual and family support, which includes authorized representatives
- Referral to community and social support services if relevant
- The use of Health Information Technology (HIT) to link services, as feasible and appropriate.
Currently Health Homes can be found in many states throughout the US. In New York State, Health Home implementation was a result of the Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) established in January 2011. New York State has several Lead Health Homes, covering all counties. The Health Home structure is three-tiered:
- Lead Health Home: Provides management and support to care management agencies
- Health Home Care Management Agencies: Provide Health Home core services to Health Home members
- Health Home Network of Providers: Hospitals, Private Practices, Outpatient Clinics, Specialists, Educational Services, Vocational Services, Housing Services, etc.
If you have questions regarding eligibility for Health Home services, joining our network as a provider or our process for delivering care management services, please contact:
Health Homes of Upstate NY (HHUNY)
or Contact Us
Circare is an Affiliated Health Home partner of Health Homes of Upstate New York (HHUNY). HHUNY provides administrative support and governance to four affiliated Health Homes and over 60 Care Management agencies in New York State.
Circare is also a member of the NY Health Home Coalition which seeks to improve the health and lives of all individuals served in Health Homes by enabling providers to deliver the highest quality, most cost effective care management to all.