Federal Funding to Boost Telehealth Services for Vulnerable Groups in NY
Seniors, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and those with Alzheimer's will gain expanded access to telehealth services supported by $2 million in federal budget funds.
Source: Getty Images
By Anuja Vaidya
- Federal funding will help expand telehealth services for numerous underserved groups in Western New York.
US Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) has secured $2 million in the federal 2023 budget to support the expansion of People Inc.'s telehealth service for senior citizens, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, those who are deaf and hard of hearing, and people with Alzheimer's disease in the western region of the state.
People Inc. is a nonprofit health and human services agency offering programs and services for senior citizens and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization provides a telehealth service in collaboration with Virtual Medical Care, which is designed to support independent living and improved medical outcomes.
"We know that access to routine and preventative services is a determining factor in health and well-being," said Higgins in the press release. "People with disabilities have unique needs and circumstances, creating additional hurdles to connecting with quality care. This funding for People Inc. will break through health access barriers for families, improving wellness and life quality for the people of Western New York."
The telehealth service is staffed by registered nurses with experience caring for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are available via telephone and video-based conferencing. They can help assess injuries, address medication concerns, differentiate between behavioral and medical issues, and connect patients to the appropriate level of care.
Further, People Inc. has a partnership with Deaf Access Services through which American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation options are offered during virtual visits.
"As we continue to focus on increasing access to care and removing health-care barriers, this grant will allow further opportunities to offer expert, face-to-face care to vulnerable people right in their homes," said Anne McCaffrey, president and CEO of People Inc., in the press release.
Research has indicated that telehealth services could help boost care access and lower costs for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD).
In 2021, New York-based managed care plan Partners Health Plan (PHP) announced the results of a 12-month pilot program that provided telehealth services to around 1,100 members. The program fielded nearly 700 calls from PHP members during that period and succeeded in resolving 90 percent of the health inquiries.
PHP stated that the telehealth service saved members with I/DD up to $1,900 in individual healthcare costs and saved the health plan about $2.2 million in emergency room and hospital admission costs.
Western New York also joins Missouri in expanding telehealth services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Last month, the Missouri Division of Developmental Disabilities partnered with IntellectAbility and StationMD to offer residents with disabilities access to telehealth services supported by web-based health risk data.
The services provided by StationMD are available to patients receiving care under the MO Division of Developmental Disabilities Medicaid Waiver. StationMD clinicians can also access IntellectAbility's Health Risk Screening Tool, gaining insights into subjective patient health risks.
