Health Care Innovation Awards: Developmental Disabilities Health Services Project Profile

Project Title: "Expanding and testing a Nurse Practitioner-led health home model for individuals with developmental disabilities"
Geographic Reach: Arkansas, New Jersey, New York
Funding Amount: $3,701,528
Estimated 3- Year Savings: $5,374,080

Summary

Developmental Disabilities Health Services received an award to test a developmental disabilities health home model using care management/primary care teams of nurse practitioners and MDs to improve the health and care of persons with developmental disabilities in important clinical areas. This health home model serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who receive Medicaid and/or Medicare benefits in New Jersey, the Bronx, and Little Rock, Arkansas, and are eligible for services in each state's Home- and Community-Based Services waiver program, as well as individuals who are commercially insured and uninsured. All of the patients are considered high-risk and many have co-morbidities. By integrating care using nurse practitioners as care coordinators and health care providers, the health homes are improving primary care, mental health care, basic neurological care, and seizure management for these beneficiaries, resulting in reduced emergency room visits and lower out-of-home placement and institutionalization. Over a three-year period, Developmental Disabilities Health Services will retrain and deploy 20 individuals to provide and coordinate primary care and mental health services in health homes for persons with developmental disabilities.

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