Holistic approach will provide an extra layer of support to members and families facing a serious illness
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — No matter who’s by your side, facing an advanced illness is taxing. Patients often experience pain, fatigue, stress and depression – as well as unnecessary or unwanted trips to the emergency room and hospital.
BlueCross and Aspire Health are launching a new ‘House Calls’ program that will boost quality of life by adding an extra, personalized layer of support. This new partnership will provide BlueCross members who are facing serious illnesses like cancer, congestive heart failure (CHF), end-stage renal disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) access to Aspire’s specially trained clinicians, who will visit BlueCross members primarily in their homes.
Aspire’s physician practices specialize in helping improve quality of life and avoid unnecessary or unwanted emergency room and hospital visits. Their practices are led by specially trained physicians and staffed by an interdisciplinary team of advanced practice nurses, social workers, dieticians, and chaplains. Aspire’s physicians and nurses are available to patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
“Living with a serious illness can be extremely challenging,” said Clay Phillips, Vice President of Network Innovation for BlueCross. “We’re excited to partner with Aspire on this innovative house calls program. Their holistic approach will bring peace of mind to our members and improve their quality of life.”
Aspire’s clinicians are experts in providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness; helping patients and caregivers navigate the healthcare system; guiding patients and caregivers through difficult and complex treatment choices; and providing emotional and spiritual support to patients and their families. Aspire’s program has been shown to have extremely high rates of patient and family satisfaction while reducing hospitalizations by between 56% and 72%.
“Today, a large number of patients facing a serious illness receive a very poor quality of care from our traditional healthcare system. They often go in and out of the hospital and are shuffled between ten or more doctors,” said Bill Frist, Aspire Health Co-Founder and Chairman and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader. “Aspire’s services are focused on providing an extra layer of support to these patients so they can have the highest quality of care possible, including the ability to be seen in their home and have access to a doctor or nurse practitioner 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
Aspire’s program will initially be available to Medicare Advantage and commercial members in Bradley, Cheatham, Davidson, Fayette, Hamilton, Robertson, Rutherford, Shelby, Sumner, Tipton, Williamson, and Wilson counties. Eligible BlueCross members will be referred to Aspire by their oncologist or primary care provider.
About BlueCross®
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee’s mission is to provide peace of mind through better health. Founded in 1945, the Chattanooga-based health care company is focused on serving more than 3 million members in Tennessee and across the country. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Inc. is an independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association (BCBSA). BCBSA is an association of independent BlueCross and Blue Shield Plans. For more information, visit the company’s website at bcbst.com.
About Aspire Health
Aspire Health operates a group of specialized physician practices that focus exclusively on caring for patients facing a serious illness. Each of these practices is led by a specially trained physician and includes an interdisciplinary team of advanced practice nurses, social workers, dieticians and chaplains. Aspire’s clinicians visit patients in their homes as well as see cancer patients in outpatient clinics co-located within large oncology offices. Aspire was co-founded by Bill Frist, a physician and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader, and is based in Nashville, Tennessee. Aspire currently operates in six states. For more information, visit Aspire Health’s website at www.aspirehealthcare.com.