Oct. 14, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sarah Mashburn, CAST, (202) 508-9492
Report: Pennsylvania Leads in Aging Services Technologies
Pennsylvania is significantly ahead of other states in using technology to care for the aging, according to a new report released today by the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging’s Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) and PANPHA, an Association of Nonprofit Senior Services in Pennsylvania.
The state is ahead because it was the first to reimburse providers through Medicaid for care provided via these technologies. Right now, more than 6,300 clients receiving home care services in Pennsylvania use remote vital signs monitoring technologies. These technologies reduce the need for doctor’s visits and notify caregivers immediately of significant changes. Recent survey commissioned by the Pennsylvania Homecare Association found that 38 percent of home health agencies, 24 percent of hospice providers and 17 percent of private duty nurses are also using the technologies. These numbers are likely to significantly increase under the new state program.
“Pennsylvania recently developed one of the most advanced and comprehensive public policies for aging services technologies in the nation,” said Scott Peifer, CAST’s associate director for state policy and the report’s lead author. “Pennsylvania now reimburses providers for the cost of a wide range of technologies used to care for seniors who are eligible for the state’s Medicaid aging waiver program. That program is helping people receive the care they need while staying at home.”
“Our study shows that the right public policies and provider practices can create a network of technology-driven services to help elders stay at home and achieve better outcomes,” said Majd Alwan, PhD, director of CAST. “We hope to see more payers, including Medicare, state Medicaid programs and insurance providers reimburse for technologies to make these services broadly accessible.”
“Many providers are working hard to maximize how technology impacts every aspect of the care and housing they provide to older adults,” Ron Barth, president & CEO of PANPHA, said. “They are creating new business models that make substantial investments in technology because they fully believe that it will transform aging.”
Pennsylvania’s homecare and aging services providers were early leaders adopting telehealth and telemonitoring technologies, the report concludes, and their advocacy helped to create the TeleCare reimbursement demonstration that is now being finalized as a standard feature of the “PDA 60+ Medicaid Waiver” program.
Beyond the policy and provider initiatives, Pennsylvania’s universities and not-for-profit organizations are also bolstering advancements in technology adoption. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Pennsylvania and Carnegie Mellon University are providing supportive evidence for policy change and launching major partnerships with providers to test and refine emerging technologies on a large scale. The PA Assistive Technology Foundation also provides consumers with financial assistance so they can purchase aging-services technologies if they are unable to afford the costs.
The full report is available on CAST’s Web site.
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About CAST
The Center for Aging Services Technologies (www.agingtech.org), an international coalition of more than 400 technology companies, aging-services organizations, research universities, and government representatives that is leading the charge to expedite the development, evaluation and adoption of emerging technologies that can improve the aging experience.
About PANPHA
Established in 1963, PANPHA – An Association of Nonprofit Senior Services - is the state’s largest trade association representing nonprofit private, fraternal, religious and government sponsored providers of housing and health-related service options to Pennsylvania’s elderly. More than 350 member organizations belong to PANPHA, including nursing facilities, retirement communities, personal care and independent housing facilities, HUD housing, adult day care and other community-based service providers.