Partnership to Increase Access to
Comprehensive Care for Americans Living in Rural Areas
SAN
FRANCISCO, May 31, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today,
Homeward, a company committed to improving access to high-quality,
comprehensive care in rural communities, announced a strategic
partnership with Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) to provide access to
comprehensive care for those living in rural areas across the
U.S.
Rite Aid and Homeward partner to provide
access to comprehensive care for those living in rural areas across
the U.S
Pharmacists are among the most trusted members of a local
community – especially for the more than 50 percent of Americans
living with a chronic condition[1]. Today, Rite Aid has over 6,300
pharmacists across 2,300 locations, including 700 pharmacy
locations in rural areas, many of which are healthcare deserts with
limited access to doctors and hospitals.
Beginning this summer, Homeward and Rite Aid will partner to
connect underserved seniors with providers and other clinical
services. Rite Aid pharmacists will be able to introduce
Medicare-eligible customers to Homeward's clinical services,
including annual wellness visits, screenings, and risk assessments.
In addition, Rite Aid will host Homeward's mobile care units at
select rural Michigan locations to
provide care and services to underserved communities with the goal
of expanding to additional markets nationwide.
"As we rearchitect health and care for rural Americans, we must
consider the specific needs of millions living in these communities
and so-called healthcare deserts. In these areas, we can't assume
that 'if you build it, they will come.' Instead, we're creating
convenient opportunities for care within the daily lives and
routines of rural Americans," said Dr. Jennifer Schneider, CEO, Homeward. "Rite Aid is
a highly recognized and trusted pharmacy services company with
rural locations that serve many thousands of people every day.
Through our partnership, we'll be able to connect individuals to
our services as we improve access to critical, frontline services
in these communities."
"Rite Aid is deeply committed to improving the lives of our
customers with expanded pharmacy and healthcare services in
underserved rural communities," said Rite Aid President and CEO
Heyward Donigan. "We are proud to support the innovative work that
Homeward is doing to introduce a new, hybrid care model that will
play a critical role in our customers' health journeys."
To date, much of the innovation in healthcare has been applied
only to urban populations, leaving rural populations saddled with
widespread hospital closures2 and physician
shortages3, both of which exacerbate health
disparities, significantly poorer clinical outcomes and higher
total costs. To address these significant gaps, Homeward announced
plans to provide high-quality, accessible care for the 60 million
Americans living in rural communities using a unique, hybrid model
that is designed to meet their distinctive needs.
Similarly, Rite Aid is focused on improving healthcare in
underserved rural communities. "Our pharmacists have trusted
relationships with millions of seniors built on years of frequent
interactions and counseling in regards to medication and whole
health needs. By partnering with Homeward, we will use our scale
and suite of services to help close gaps in care and improve
medication adherence," Donigan said. "Being part of the hybrid
model that Homeward is building is an exciting opportunity to truly
improve the health and wellness of our rural communities."
Homeward deploys an integrated care model that combines mobile,
community-based care with centralized clinical oversight and
ongoing care management. Homeward providers see members both in
community-based, mobile clinics and in members' homes, as
preferred. Homeward care teams conduct physical exams, perform
basic diagnostic tests, and when needed, refer members to regional
health systems and specialists if more complicated diagnostics are
required. Homeward's technology-enabled care model also includes
virtual visits and in-home, cellular-based remote monitoring that
keeps patients connected to their multidisciplinary care team.
Homeward will provide in-network services, including primary
care and specialty care beginning with cardiology, in Q3 2022 for
individuals covered by Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans. The
company will set aside the fee-for-service model – which defaults
to in-clinic care settings and limits the ability to leverage new,
innovative technology and services – in favor of a value-based,
total capitation model.
About Homeward
Homeward is rearchitecting rural health and care for the 60
million Americans living in rural communities. Homeward employs an
in-network multidisciplinary care team, available both virtually
and on the ground via mobile care units, with in-home remote
monitoring to better connect patients to high-quality, accessible,
and comprehensive care. Today, the company partners with Medicare
and Medicare Advantage plans, taking on the full risk of their
members to improve outcomes and reduce costs. For more information,
please visit www.homewardhealth.com.
About Rite Aid
Corporation
Rite Aid Corporation is on the front lines of delivering
healthcare services and retail products to Americans 365 days a
year. Our pharmacists are uniquely positioned to engage with
customers and improve their health outcomes. We provide an array of
whole being health products and services for the entire family
through over 2,400 retail pharmacy locations across 17 states.
Through Elixir, we provide pharmacy benefits and services to
millions of members nationwide. For more information, visit
www.riteaid.com.
Press Contact:
Jen
Long
Homeward@120over80mktg.com
617-784-3245
Press Contact:
Terri
Hickey
Terri.hickey@riteaid.com
717-975-5718
1 In a recent Gallup poll, more than 79% of patient
respondents found pharmacists to be a reliable source of general
health information beyond general medication questions.
1Since 2005, at least 163 rural hospitals have
closed, more than 60% of them since 2012. Rural health clinics are
faltering too; 388 clinics closed between 2012 and 2018, which left
4,245 in operation.
2There are fewer physicians in rural areas: 39.8
physicians per 100,000 people, compared to 53.3 physicians per
100,000 in urban areas. Nearly 80% of rural counties are short on
primary care doctors and 9% have none. And this problem is only
going to worsen. More than 25% of primary care physicians in rural
areas are 60 or older, compared with 18% in urban areas.
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SOURCE Homeward