Highmark Health Partners with Contessa

PITTSBURGH and NASHVILLE, Tenn. (November 14, 2019)—Highmark Health, a national health and wellness organization, announced that it is working with Contessa to improve individuals’ health care experiences through a joint venture designed to enable consumers to receive hospital-quality care in the comfort and convenience of their homes. The joint venture, Home Recovery Care LLC, will provide all essential elements of inpatient care in the home through telemedicine, in-home providers, and robust care management oversight. This is made possible utilizing Contessa’s proprietary technology specifically designed to coordinate home-based hospital care.

As part of this patient-centered, value-based solution, Home Recovery Care patients are monitored for 30 days to ensure they are recovering appropriately, adhering to physician-devised care plans, and attending all necessary follow-up appointments with primary care physicians and other specialists.

“Creating a value-based experience that enables patients and families to heal in the home is a priority for Highmark Health,” said Dr. Monique Reese, senior vice president, Home and Community Care for Highmark Health. “Through the Home Recovery Care Model, Allegheny Health Network will provide high-quality in-home services such as home care, home infusion, and durable medical equipment. We are excited to expand our home-focused solutions by partnering with Contessa to provide high-quality acute-level care in the comfort of the patient’s home.”

“This new collaboration with Contessa enables us to deliver on Highmark Health’s mission to create a remarkable customer experience,” added Dr. Tony Farah, executive vice president/chief medical and clinical transformation officer of Highmark Health. “We are laser focused on achieving the quadruple aim—to transform health care through proactively improving clinical outcomes and driving better patient and clinician experiences, thereby lowering total cost of care.”

Home Recovery Care is currently available to select Highmark Inc. commercial health plan members in western Pennsylvania, and will be available to all Medicare Advantage members beginning Jan. 1, 2020. Highmark Health intends to make this service available to all Highmark Health plan members in western and central Pennsylvania in 2020 and is exploring opportunities to expand this service to its other core markets of West Virginia and Delaware.

“Highmark Health is a true leader in the transformation of health care,” said Travis Messina, CEO of Contessa. “They are known for innovative initiatives that result in remarkable experiences for patients at a reduced cost. Now, as a trusted partner, we are excited to play a role in the transformational care that is being delivered in the Highmark Health communities.”

Visit highmarkhealth.com for more information.