The Helper Bees announces a nationwide call for service providers to respond to the company’s provider network request for information (RFI). The goal of the RFI is to expand The Helper Bees’ innovative care and support services that help older adults age independently, including resources and technology that enable remote patient monitoring, mental health, medication adherence, legal assistance, and more. The end result is America’s very first complete Aging-In-Place Platform.
By 2034, there will be 77 million adults aged 65+. The fact that almost 90% of Americans want to age at home or with loved ones means the demand for in-home services will continue to rise, reaching new heights over the next 10 years. As a result, several of the largest payers of aging-in-place services – including Long-term Care Insurance (LTCI), Medicare Advantage (MA), and Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) – are shifting benefits deployment from facility to home.
The Helper Bees is currently working with several payers to deliver a broader range of supplemental services to members such as rides, meals, home modification, pest control, errands and more. The need for these services is rapidly expanding. For instance, while the growth in the number of MA plans offering in-home support benefits nearly doubled from 2021 to 2022, The Helper Bees saw a near four-fold growth in member adoption of these services during that same time. Given this diversity of needs, The Helper Bees is seeking information from providers to help guide future innovation within the program and support independent aging in America.
By moving from a single provider to a platform-based approach, payers, providers, and insureds benefit. Carriers need the breadth and diversification of a larger network to enable fulfillment. Providers gain access to a new revenue stream. And older adults want access to quality, trustworthy providers to deliver the services they need into the home.
The Helper Bees is looking for providers who can:
- Offer non-traditional support services, and/or traditional services like caregiving and home care
- Operate at a nationwide scale
- Support aging-in-place to reduce overall healthcare costs, improve health outcomes, and lower institutionalization rates
“The ultimate goal is helping older adults maintain their independence,” said Char Hu, PhD, The Helper Bees CEO. “And our company can’t do it alone. This is why we are such strong believers in the platform-based approach. By broadening out our already robust network, we will continue to transform aging-in-place in America.”
The Helper Bees Provider Network is a nationwide network of 6,500+ credentialed service providers that enables carriers to expand their offerings while allowing insureds across the U.S. access to a full spectrum of services that make independent aging at home possible. The Helper Bees Provider Network integrates agencies that provide homemaker, personal care, and companion support with those offering transportation, meal delivery, home repair, pest control, and other community-based services. The technology behind this network, powered by healthAlign, handles all on-boarding, credentialing, claims processing and reimbursement, and quality control.
The Helper Bees encourages qualified providers – national brands as well as local independents – to join the network within the following categories:
- Cleaning and Housekeeping
- Home Maintenance (electrical, plumbing, general handyman, etc.)
- Home Modification
- Legal and Financial Advice
- Mental Health Support
- Moving, Relocation, and Downsizing
- Pest Control
- Transportation
- Medication Adherence and Fulfillment
- Durable Medical Equipment
- OTC Benefits
- Fall Detection and Prevention
- Caregiver Support
- Advanced Technology
- Social Isolation Improvement
- And more
To review a complete list of the vendor types that are in demand, visit the official RFI webpage. Responses will be accepted until June 10, 2022.
[Source(s): The Helper Bees, Business Wire]