$750,000 Grant to Address Asthma

The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) as part of their SHIFT-Care Challenge has awarded Baystate Health Care Alliance/BeHealthy Partnership ACO a $750,000 grant to expand the Springfield Healthy Homes Asthma Program designed to improve the health and quality of life for people with asthma. The HPC’s SHIFT-Care Challenge grant opportunity is designed to foster innovative care delivery models in Massachusetts that shift the unnecessary delivery of care of complex patients from acute care hospitals to more economical, patient-centered, community-based settings.

In the first collaboration of its kind in Massachusetts, two Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) – BeHealthy Partnership and MercyHealth ACO – will join together with community organizations from the greater Springfield area to refer patients for the Springfield Healthy Homes Asthma Program’s home education and remediation service.

The intervention includes 3-4 home visits for asthma management education and support, distribution of supplies as well as home assessment and repair services for any asthma triggers that are identified. Our partners include:

• University of Massachusetts Medical School –Baystate (evaluation)

• Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts (program and data management)

• Pioneer Valley Asthma Coalition and Green & Healthy Homes Initiative.(advisory committee)

• Baystate Medical Center’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation Department (community health worker home visiting)
• Revitalize CDC (lead housing provider)

• City of Springfield Office of Housing and  Springfield Partners for Community Action (leveraged housing provider)

HealthCare News - Collaboration Receives $750,000 Grant to Address Asthma.