Contessa Well being, a subsidiary of Amedisys Inc. (Nasdaq: AMED), has been chosen by the Facilities for Medicare & Medicaid Providers (CMS) to take part within the Guiding an Improved Dementia Expertise (GUIDE) Mannequin. The mannequin is targeted on creating extra complete and coordinated dementia care.

The corporate joins almost 400 contributors in creating nationwide dementia care packages (DCPs), designed to enhance care coordination and enhance entry to companies and help.

Contessa Well being has been offering complete house care since 2015. Based mostly in Nashville, Tennessee, the corporate companions with 11 well being methods and a number of well being plans, serving sufferers in 9 states.

“CMS is happy to accomplice with Contessa underneath the GUIDE mannequin,” CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure mentioned in a press launch. “GUIDE is a brand new method to how Medicare can pay for look after folks with dementia. GUIDE contributors are discovering new methods to not solely help folks with dementia, but additionally to cut back the burden on the individuals who look after them, so extra People can stay of their houses and communities, quite than in establishments.”

The GUIDE mannequin, launched on July 1, assessments a brand new method to cost for crucial help companies to enhance the standard of life of individuals with dementia. These companies embody complete, person-centered assessments and care plans, care coordination, 24/7 entry to an interdisciplinary care crew member or helpline, and devoted respite companies to help household caregivers.

“Our crew of nurse practitioners, nurses and social employees has a wealth of expertise serving to sufferers and caregivers navigate the complicated world of well being care,” Gavin Baumgardner, Contessa’s vice chairman and nationwide medical director of Palliative Care at Dwelling, mentioned in an announcement. “Via the GUIDE mannequin, we are able to apply this scientific mannequin to dementia sufferers and their caregivers to assist this weak inhabitants dwell longer at house and obtain a greater high quality of life.”

Contessa's involvement with the GUIDE mannequin will assist people with dementia and their caregivers entry schooling and help. This contains coaching packages targeted on finest practices for caring for a liked one with dementia.

Respite care is evaluated in keeping with the GUIDE mannequin to find out to what extent it contributes to the care of casual caregivers, in order that they’ll proceed to care for his or her family members at house. This will delay or stop the necessity for institutional care.

GUIDE contributors symbolize a broad vary of well being care suppliers, together with massive educational facilities, small group practices, community-based organizations, well being methods, hospice businesses, and different practices.

The mannequin is an implementation of the Biden administration's government order to enhance entry to high quality care and help household caregivers. It is usually aligned with the nationwide plan to deal with Alzheimer's illness.

Amedisys acquired Contessa Well being in 2021 for $250 million. Since then, the latter has been a serious focus of the previous. Amedisys’ high-acuity care revenues, pushed by Contessa Well being, have been steadily growing quarter after quarter.