ATLANTA--(
BUSINESS WIRE)--Aetna (NYSE: AET) announced today that it will cover the transition care services for members of “Dream House for Medically Fragile Children Inc.,” the first insurance company in Georgia to do so. Dream House provides hospital-to-home services at the
Family for Keeps® Transition Care Home in Lilburn, Ga., which is the only licensed children’s transition care center in the nation. At the center, children with complicated needs that require careful monitoring and a wide variety of medical interventions receive around-the-clock skilled nursing care in a home-like setting. Their families and caregivers are trained on site, and homes are prepared to meet the children’s specialized care needs.
“Aetna is one of the most progressive insurance companies in today’s market,” noted Laura O. Moore, Dream House founder and CEO. “They recognize the value of transition care services for medically complex children, and have demonstrated great leadership by making these services available to their clients. We are grateful for their involvement, and look forward to serving Aetna members with exceptional programs and services.”
Moore, a pediatric nurse and clinical educator for more than 20 years, created the patent-pending Family for Keeps® Transition Model of Care in response to a startling trend she recognized in the late 1990s. In addition to her professional expertise, Moore is herself the foster and adoptive parent of a medically fragile child.
“Without a facility of this nature, children typically have to stay longer in a costly hospital setting,” she said. “This adds stress to their families and can expose them to further risk of infection.”
Heroic medical advancements save more children each year who would not previously have survived, but the infrastructure to support their specialized, intensive needs at home has not grown at the same rate, Moore noted. “We prepare families who will be caring for children at home, so they can leave the hospital sooner. That reduces medical expenses, and gives the children a better quality of life,” she said.
“As we visit health care providers, we are constantly inspired and motivated by the work they do,” said Dr. Jack Spicer, Aetna medical director for Georgia. “By providing excellent training to caregivers in a comfortable setting, Dream House lessens the chance of children returning to the hospital. Doctors and nurses know a child’s next move will be to a safe, controlled care setting.
“At a time when we are looking at how to lower health care costs and improve health outcomes, this innovative relationship with Dream House is a positive step for everyone. We are proud to be the first health insurer to take this important step, and we encourage others to follow our lead for the benefit of these children and their families,” Dr. Spicer said.
Snellville, Ga. (February 15, 2011) – Dream House for Medically Fragile Children, Inc. announced today the flagship
Family for Keeps® Transition Care Home in Lilburn is now accepting referrals to provide care for Georgia’s children who are tracheostomy and ventilator dependent. This marks the first pediatric step-down facility in Georgia with a patent-pending transition care program that provides 24-hour nursing and skills training to prepare each child and family for transition to their own home. Referring agency case managers (hospital, insurance and DFCS) may call the Referral Line (678) 485-4810 or review the online
Referral and Admission Guidelines.
Complex medically fragile children can get home sooner saving thousands in medical care and foster care costs.
“We offer a win-win proposition for these children, their families, healthcare institutions, insurance companies and Georgia’s taxpayers,” said Laura Moore, Dream House Founder and CEO. “For less than half the cost of acute care settings, we can effectively and efficiently prepare the child, family and home environment, discharge the child sooner, reduce hospital readmissions, and keep more families together.”
The Dream House Family for Keeps® Transition Care Home is licensed as the first and only Children’s Transition Care Center (CTCC) in the nation. The Dream House organization operates this wraparound, hospital-to-home program as an approved Medicaid provider under Georgia Healthy Families and GAPP, and is also contracted to serve private insurance patients covered by Aetna. Dream House continues provider contract negotiations with other insurance companies, as well.
A 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization devoted to serving children with chronic, complex health issues, Dream House relies primarily on private funding to operate its patent-pending Transition Model of Care that empowers families and communities to care for their medically fragile children at home. For more information, contact us, visit http://www.dreamhouseforkids.org, or call 770-717-7410.
March 2, 2011 (Snellville, GA) – Dream House for Medically Fragile Children, Inc. confirmed today that Georgia’s First Lady, Sandra Deal, will tour the organization’s flagship Family for Keeps® Transition Care Home in Lilburn on Wednesday, March 9, 2011. This facility is licensed as the first Children’s Transition Care Center (CTCC) in Georgia, and serves children with complex health care needs from all over the state. Mrs. Deal will learn more about the patent-pending Transition Model of Care while touring this 8,400 s.f. home that is the first residential facility in Georgia to provide 24-hour nursing and skills training to prepare each child and family for transition to their own home.
“We are especially honored that Mrs. Deal is interested in learning more about the challenges and barriers facing Georgia’s medically fragile children,” said Laura Moore, Dream House Founder and CEO. “The value of forming a resource infrastructure that makes it possible for families and communities to care for their medically complex children at home is starting to gain traction in Georgia. My hope is for the First Lady to understand that for half the cost of acute care settings, the Family for Keeps® Transition Care Program can effectively and efficiently prepare the child, family and home environment, discharge the child sooner, reduce hospital readmissions, and keep more families together.”
Governor Deal’s inaugural transition team selected the Dream House organization to benefit from the January 8, 2011 “With a Servant’s Heart – Day of Service.” Along with a team of volunteers from Magellan Health Services, a group organized by Deal for Governor Gwinnett Chair Ben Satterfield, completed many projects at the Dream House Family for Keeps® Transition Care Home that day.
“Observing the Dream House staff working with the children (patients) was amazing,” said Mr. Satterfield, a Lilburn resident and Dream House corporate supporter. “There is not enough money anywhere to buy the love and attention that Dream House staff devote to these special children. We did accomplish a great deal in the few hours we worked. Upon departing, the service that all the volunteers rendered hit me full force. Thank you (Dream House) for the feelings all of us experienced in serving your great endeavor.”
The Dream House organization operates its wraparound, hospital-to-home program as an approved Medicaid provider under Georgia Healthy Families and GAPP, and is also contracted to serve private insurance patients covered by Aetna. Dream House continues provider contract negotiations with other insurance companies, as well. Referring agency case managers (hospital, insurance and DFCS) may call the Referral Line (678) 485-4810, or visit http://www.dreamhouseforkids.org to review the referral and admission guidelines.
A 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization devoted to serving children with chronic, complex health care issues, Dream House relies on primarily on private funding to operate its patent-pending Transition Model of Care that empowers families and communities to care for their medically fragile children at home. For more information, visit http://www.dreamhouseforkids.org or call 770-717-7410.