New Study Finds That Remote Monitoring Reduces Long-Term Care Days, ER Visits And Hospital Admissions

Remote monitoring is playing an increasingly important role in helping the elderly and chronically ill live safely and independently in their homes, but the tools also significantly reduce health care costs, according to a new study from Fallon Health, a nationally recognized innovative health insurer and care provider, and Healthsense, the fastest growing provider of technology-enabled care solutions.

Conducted over a period of 12 months, the study measured the impact of using Healthsense’s in-home remote monitoring system for the elderly and chronically ill.

Results for the first eight months of the pilot program show that the group using Healthsense experienced 38 percent fewer ER visits per 1,000 members, 14 percent fewer days in long-term care per 1,000 members, and 7 percent fewer inpatient admissions per 1,000 members as compared to the control group which did not have Healthsense installed. In addition, a secondary analysis showed that members using Healthsense had health care claims costs that were $759.29 per month lower than those without Healthsense. This result yields a return on investment (ROI) of more than 6-to-1. Final trial results are expected in April 2015.

“These early results provide compelling evidence that using the Healthsense system in the homes of the elderly and the chronically ill can dramatically reduce health care costs,” said A.R. Weiler, Healthsense President and CEO.

The development of the trial study methodology was authenticated by the Validation Institute (validationinstitute.com), whose goal is to improve standards for measuring and promoting the benefits of population health and remote care management solutions and services. The Validation Institute creates a standard by which those seeking solutions can evaluate service providers based on integrity and performance. Healthsense is the first remote monitoring technology company to receive validation from the Institute for outcomes measurement contractual language.

The measurement of these results met all relevant plausibility tests set forth in the industry’s guidebook to valid analysis, Why Nobody Believes the Numbers: Separating Fact from Fiction in Population Health Management (Al Lewis, John Wiley & Sons, 2012). Specifically, the “Nexus Rule” states: “There must be a logical link between the goal of the program and the source of the savings.” The savings in this trial were found, exactly as expected, on inpatient and emergency room events, and in custodial care facility (nursing home) utilization.

“Fallon is committed to ensuring that the frailest of our elder population can continue to live safely and independently in their homes,” said Dr. Sarika Aggarwal, Chief Medical Officer at Fallon Health. “With Healthsense’s remote monitoring pilot, our care managers and Navigator team receive timely updates regarding member changes. We’re then able to follow established protocols to communicate these changes to the member’s primary care physician. This communication drives assessment and interventions that help us avoid complications that may hinder our members’ ability to continue to live in their homes alone. It’s a great partnership.”

In addition to the quantitative analysis, Fallon member satisfaction was measured via standardized telephone interviews with a randomly selected population of members who had Healthsense in their homes. Thirty eight percent of the total study population’s members were sampled with an overwhelmingly positive result. One hundred percent of members reported that they would recommend Healthsense to a friend, and one hundred percent relayed that they viewed their health plan more favorably as a result of their providing the Healthsense system.

“Feedback from Fallon’s members also suggests that Healthsense is helping Fallon deliver a high quality of care that members would recommend to their friends,” Weiler said. “This is all possible because of our partnership with Fallon, a leader in developing innovative practices to help their members securely age in place.”

About Fallon
Founded in 1977, Fallon Health is a leading care services organization that supports the diverse and changing needs of those it serves. In addition to providing innovative health insurance and Medicaid and Medicare products, Fallon excels in unique health care programs and services that coordinate care for seniors and individuals with complex health needs. Fallon has consistently ranked among the nation's top health plans, and is the only health plan in Massachusetts to have been awarded "Excellent" Accreditation by the National Committee for Quality Assurances for its HMO, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid products. For more information, visit fallonhealth.org.

About Healthsense, Inc.
Healthsense is the fastest growing provider of technology-enabled care solutions for the entire senior care continuum. With a full range of health and safety monitoring systems, providers are empowered to proactively deliver the highest quality care possible through critical health information. Caregivers reduce costs, increase independence and enhance senior experiences when armed with the right information at the right time. For more information, visit healthsense.com.