Mobile medical care units: an innovative use of Medicare funding.
Medicare is an underutilized payment source for home-delivered health care services for homebound elderly. An innovative service provision for home health care, Mobile Medical Care Units (MMCU), is presented. MMCU consist of a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals who are responsible for following the health care needs of their elderly patients on a continuous long-term basis across settings. This comprehensive care has significant impacts on homebound elderly and the health care industry. MMCU have the potential to be covered more inclusively by primary or supplemental health insurance plans, including Medicare, Medicaid, and HMO's, or by special funding from state aging departments.
Kelley-Gillespie
Nancy
N
University of Utah College of Social Work, 395 S 1500 E, Room 111, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0260, USA. nancy.kelley@socwk.utah.edu
D000368:Aged; D003191:Comprehensive Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016330:Frail Elderly; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018577:Homebound Persons; D006801:Humans; D016345:Medicare Part B / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008952:Mobile Health Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D010348:Patient Care Team; D014481:United States