Health Care Articles: Get the Facts Here

Aeroflow Health is proud to partner with United Way, underscoring our dedication to community engagement and volunteerism. As a primary contributor, we sponsor the Back to School drive for United Way of Buncombe County, offering employees the chance to pack backpacks for local students. We are also integrating into United Way’s volunteer platform, Hands On, so our managers can schedule volunteer opportunities for their teams.

For United Way of Henderson County, we sponsored the Days of Caring event, allowing our team to participate in various community service projects. Days of Caring, held annually on the second Saturday of May, mobilizes hundreds of volunteers to support local nonprofits through hands-on projects, enhancing community well-being.

Looking forward, we aspire to deepen our collaboration with United Way on a national scale, aiming for more significant contributions and expanded community impact. This partnership represents a vital step in Aeroflow Health’s commitment to making a positive difference in the communities we serve. We are excited to continue these initiatives and more like them with United Way!

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How Aeroflow Health is transforming postpartum care for moms

The act of breastfeeding and the use of human milk offer a multitude of long and short-term benefits for both mother and baby, making it the optimal form of infant feeding. Breastfeeding and expressing milk is a new experience for many moms and parents, and they need support. At Aeroflow Health, we offer a number of programs such as helping moms find the most appropriate pump for their lactation journey, lactation and infant care informational courses, and one-on-one appointments. The aim of this report was to provide conclusions about how Aeroflow Health moms compare to national data based on breastfeeding, sleep, introducing solid foods and mental health parameters at 6 months.

“Being able to partner with Aeroflow in a member’s journey from conception to postpartum has allowed Sentara to offer programs of longevity.”

Kate Maas

Sentara Health Plans

Dr. Alena Clark, PhD, MPH, RDN, CLC

Dr. Alena Clark, PhD, MPH, RDN, CLC (she/her), is a clinical writer and researcher for Aeroflow Health Lactation and an instructor at Colorado State University. She has worked in lactation support for over 20 years and is recognized as an outstanding educator and leader in lactation support in Colorado. She developed the Toolkit for Establishing Lactation Support on university and college campuses. She also wrote, published, and presented multiple papers on lactation support and nutrition education.

This content has been reviewed for accuracy by Mike Cantor, Chief Medical Advisor at Aeroflow Health.

Dive into our blog inspired by our webinar, “The Silent Struggle: How Health Plans Can Champion Mental Wellbeing,” to look into the potential situational stressors and risk factors that could be leading to an increase in mental health conditions within your member population. For more comprehensive insights, don’t miss the chance to watch the webinar playback.

Aeroflow Health has observed that the maternal continuum of care is often incomplete. What has traditionally been missing from the model of care?

Jennifer: That’s such a great question! It is an honor that Aeroflow is often a first stop for new moms when they find out they are pregnant. Typically, moms decide to breastfeed very early on in the pregnancy journey, so we’re in contact with them, possibly before they even have the confidence to share the news with the rest of the world. We’re able to have this unique experience where we can walk with a mom through her first prenatal visits, help give direction on breast pumps, and provide classes, education, and support groups where she can connect with other moms. Our hope is to give her confidence in voice and preparation through our classes and education. Breastfeeding is natural; however, breastfeeding is not easy. I am a former breastfeeding mom, and it really is a lot of work and dedication that you have to put in, and even with preparation, there will be bumps and struggles along the way. Often, we will spend a lot of time preparing for the actual birth event but not as much time really thinking about other factors that we will need to put into practice once the baby is at home. We leave the hospital, and typically, we are faced with a multitude of hormones, lack of sleep, and relentless self-doubt questions about whether or not we’re meeting all of the needs of our baby. The 6-week postpartum check-up is often a moment of relief for new mothers. Concerns can be addressed, and the initial “fog” of those early newborn days can start to clear. However, a hidden danger lurks in this tradition: the significant gap in care between delivery and that 6-week appointment. For many mothers, this means six weeks without essential medical and emotional support during a critical time of adjustment and potential health risks. I am so deeply proud of how Aeroflow has stood in the gap for moms during this period of time. Through the help of our IBCLCs and our community of educators, we’ve been able to implement a Facebook Group called The Pumping Room, where moms are given the space to bring their questions and concerns and be met with a community that is willing to listen and help provide a path to success. With health plans, there’s an opportunity for us to really partner in triage and assist some of these moms who may be some of the most vulnerable populations. Health plans, unfortunately, aren’t privy to some of the information that patients are sharing with us at Aeroflow, so if we’re able to partner together and share the wealth of knowledge, we’re more likely to see higher success.

When it comes to mental health, what aspects of care have been missing in maternal care? How important is mental health for pregnant people, and how does Canopie provide a solution?

Anne: The experience of motherhood usually has 2 disconnected pieces. The more clinical side, where a mom will visit her OB, and then the community side, where she seeks support and answers to her questions. These pieces are so interrelated. What happens outside of the doctor’s office impacts what is discussed in the doctor’s office and vice versa. The truth is that maternal health is often treated in siloes. One of my favorite things about Aeroflow is how they truly have figured out how to fill important support gaps in a trusted, evidence-based way at a population level. Mental health conditions are the most common complications during pregnancy and childbirth, and often, can be the most devastating in terms of cost and the long-term impact on mom and baby. Sadly, in the traditional maternal care model, moms won’t talk about mental health with their doctor until postpartum. This is a huge loss as there is so much that moms can do to protect themselves throughout their pregnancy. We know that certain people are at higher risk during pregnancy, and although they may test low on the depression screeners done through their provider, we’ve seen at Canopie that these same people are experiencing a lot of anxiety, which can be a precursor to developing postpartum depression. Moms who get pregnant older, undergo IVF, are pregnant with multiples, or even someone with a history of mental health conditions are all subject to increased mental health risks. What’s really missing is proper screening. According to the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, despite the availability of scalable mental health condition solutions, less than 20% of all moms are screened for mental health conditions. Additionally, we need to be more proactive about the support we provide people because it can be so hard to access mental health support, no matter where a mom finds herself. We’re so grateful to be able to partner with Aeroflow to offer moms proactive mental health support and education that engages them with the care they need.

Health plans often have maternal care management programs. What do these programs typically do?

Ryan: More broadly, health plans are wanting to identify and have as many touch points with mom as she is walking through her pregnancy journey. This is where Aeroflow in combination with Canopie can step in to help monitor moms in their mental health as well as help identify high-risk moms.

Anne: Unfortunately, I have seen that most people do not know about the wonderful support that is available to them through their insurance. I’ve found that nurses really are a triage of support for moms as they navigate their needs and questions through the perinatal period. One of the things that Canopie and Aeroflow have done together is increase awareness of these programs for expecting moms. When we work with health plans, they typically are interested in reaching specific zip codes where they know that there are higher barriers to access to care. We help educate health plan members and provide identification for those whom health plans should have a heightened awareness of.

Recently, Aeroflow Health and Canopie partnered with a prominent Florida health plan to provide a maternal mental health program for members during their pregnancy journey. What did the risk stratification look like for this program? What were the key components of identifying members for this program?

Anne: I am so excited about this part of the work because it was an acknowledgment of how interrelated these issues are. Those who have increased determinants of health barriers have a higher risk of mental health conditions. Moms who have a high pregnancy risk are also at higher risk, and vice versa. Moms who have an untreated mental health condition are 3 times as likely to have a preterm birth. In addition to asking key social risk factor questions, we were able to segment member communication strategies between health plans, the DME provider and care management teams so that the full timeframe of needed care was covered. One major success was the amount of data we were able to gain from each mom. The self-reported information from members helped fill some gaps that wouldn’t have otherwise been available to the health plan. I will also add that trust was a huge part of the stratification process. In a world where information overload is rampant, being able to be a trusted resource that moms can look to is huge.

One of the challenges that health plans have is patient engagement. Aeroflow has had several successes with engaging with members. Can you share some of those?

Jennifer: I love this question because it has been what Aeroflow Breastpumps has focused on since day one. We’ve always believed that if we created our experience centered around the birthing parent, we would create an experience they want to be a part of. We’ve created simplicity to care and access. Birth may be the first major medical event that someone is going through, so navigating insurance can be really difficult. We are able to truly simplify the insurance process and do all of the leg work for moms so that they can focus on things like lactation education and breastfeeding support. Through resources like our Facebook group and other social channels, we are regularly talking with members. Our team of 50+ loving clinicians and customer service teams are available to moms if they want to email, call, or chat. We’re here to communicate with moms using their preferred method. We want to meet moms where they are in a fun and relatable way. We want every person who comes to our website to feel like we are wrapping our arms around them, no matter what health plan or health benefits they have.

Learn more about how Aeroflow Health partners with health plans to provide maternal mental health and to gain access to greater insights into the program mentioned in this webinar.

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Michael Cantor, M.D.

Dr. Mike Cantor is a geriatrician and attorney who has extensive experience designing and implementing value-based care, quality improvement, and care management programs for healthcare providers and health plans. He works as a fractional (part-time) Chief Medical Advisor for Aeroflow Healthcare, Uber Health, and other technology-enabled health services companies, value-based care organizations and digital health companies. Previous roles include: CMO for Bright Health Plan, an innovative health
insurer; CMO for CareCentrix, a leading outsourced home health, durable medical equipment, and post- acute care benefits manager recently acquired by Walgreens; and CMO for the New England Quality Care Alliance (NEQCA), the physician network affiliated with Tufts Medical Center, where he implemented network-wide quality improvement and care management programs for 150,000 managed care lives. He trained in internal medicine at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and did his geriatrics fellowship at Harvard Medical School. He has degrees in law and medicine from the University of Illinois.

Ryan Bullock

Ryan serves as Chief Strategy Officer at Aeroflow Health, a premier nationwide provider of durable medical equipment. In his current position, Ryan oversees strategic operations, corporate development and government relations. For over 14 years, Ryan has provided exceptional leadership, management and vision to Aeroflow, resulting in incredible growth and profitability for the company. Ryan holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Electronic Engineering from Western Carolina University and resides with his family in the beautiful mountains of Asheville, North Carolina.

Anne Wandlund

Anne is the Co-Founder and CEO of Canopie, a maternal mental health platform providing access to care for perinatal populations across all levels of mental health and social risk. Before Canopie, she spent 5 years leading maternal health organizations in East Africa, most recently as the COO of an award-winning social enterprise that uses technology to improve maternal and child nutrition. She has worked in global health for the State Department, USAID, and Massachusetts General Hospital and has a Master's degree from Tufts University, where she served as a bioethics Teaching Fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health. Anne is channeling her passion and expertise in maternal health and personal experiences with mental health conditions as a new mom to address the enormous care gap.

Jenn Jordan

Jennifer Jordan serves as the Vice President of the Mom & Baby Division at Aeroflow Health. With a passion for building brands and shaping strategic visions, Jenn has propelled Aeroflow Breastpumps to new heights in the competitive healthcare market. Leveraging her extensive experience in marketing, customer experience, sales and operations management, she has overseen the expansion of Aeroflow Breastpump's reach, forging key partnerships and driving growth in the maternal health space.

Written by Kristin Polson, Aeroflow Health

This content has been reviewed for accuracy by Amanda Minimi, Aeroflow Health

In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare regulation, it’s crucial to stay informed about the latest updates, especially when they pertain to significant changes in policy and state plans. The recent CMS Final Rule Changes, announced by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), bring forth a series of alterations that will shape the future of healthcare delivery, particularly in Medicaid and CHIP programs. Let’s delve into the key amendments and their potential implications.

Nursing Home Minimum Staffing Standards:

One of the pivotal changes introduced by the CMS Final Rule pertains to the establishment of minimum staffing standards for nursing homes. This move aims to enhance the quality of care provided to residents by ensuring adequate staffing levels, which is vital for their well-being and safety.

Access Standards for Medicaid and CHIP:

Ensuring access to quality healthcare services is paramount, especially for Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries. The CMS Final Rule mandates states to implement measures to validate the accuracy of provider directories through annual secret shopper surveys. Additionally, states are required to conduct enrollee experience surveys and submit annual payment analyses to compare managed care plans’ payment rates, ensuring transparency and accountability.

State Directed Payments:

The Final Rule streamlines the process for state-directed payments, eliminating regulatory barriers and enhancing flexibility for states to implement value-based purchasing arrangements. By mandating provider-level reporting on expenditure and establishing evaluation plans, the CMS aims to ensure the effectiveness and accountability of state-directed payments.

Quality Strategy and External Quality Review (EQR):

With a focus on improving healthcare quality, the Final Rule increases public engagement in state-managed care quality strategies and standardizes review periods for annual EQR activities. The inclusion of more meaningful data in EQR reports aims to drive continuous improvement in healthcare outcomes.

Medicaid and CHIP Quality Rating System (MAC QRS):

The establishment of MAC QRS websites as a centralized platform for beneficiaries to access information and compare managed care plans underscores the CMS’s commitment to transparency and consumer empowerment. By setting standards for quality ratings and calculation methodologies, the CMS seeks to facilitate informed decision-making among beneficiaries.

New Guardrails for Plan Compensation and Distribution of Personal Beneficiary Data:

To prevent anti-competitive practices and safeguard beneficiary data privacy, the Final Rule prohibits separate payments to agents or brokers that may compromise impartiality. Additionally, stringent guidelines are introduced for the distribution of personal beneficiary data by third-party marketing organizations, ensuring compliance with consent requirements.

Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSCBI) and Health Equity Analysis:

The Final Rule introduces standards for SSCBI eligibility and mandates mid-year notifications for unused supplemental benefits, promoting proactive healthcare management for chronically ill enrollees. Furthermore, the emphasis on health equity analysis aims to address disparities in healthcare access and outcomes.

Integration of Medicare and Medicaid Services:

Efforts to streamline enrollment processes and improve care coordination for dually eligible individuals mark a significant step towards integrated healthcare delivery. By revising enrollment periods and limiting plan options, the CMS aims to enhance the continuity and effectiveness of care for this vulnerable population.

The CMS Final Rule Changes herald a new era of accountability, transparency, and quality improvement in Medicaid programs and CHIP programs. By addressing key areas such as staffing standards, access to care, quality ratings, and beneficiary access, these amendments lay the foundation for a more equitable and efficient healthcare system. As stakeholders navigate these changes, it’s imperative to embrace collaboration and innovation to ensure the delivery of high-quality care to all beneficiaries. Stay tuned for further updates and insights as we navigate the evolving healthcare landscape together.

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References:

Federal Register, The Daily Journal of the United States Government. (2024, May 10). Medicaid Program; Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/05/10/2024-08363/medicaid-program-ensuring-access-to-medicaid-services

This content has been reviewed for accuracy by Mike Cantor, Chief Medical Advisor at Aeroflow Health.

Dive into our blog inspired by our webinar, “Common Vs. Normal: Building A Sustainable Strategy For Incontinence Management,” to learn about the significant changes occurring in the realm of continence care and how Aeroflow is actively engaged in supporting patients living with incontinence. For more comprehensive insights, don’t miss the chance to watch the webinar playback.

What is urinary incontinence? How common is it? How does it affect people’s lives?

Aleece: Urinary incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine from the bladder. Urinary incontinence can be broken down into 5 types:

- Urge incontinence: This is where someone has an urgent/sudden intense need to use the restroom. This person would have an involuntary loss of urine.
- Stress incontinence: Occurs when there is increased stress or pressure from the abdominal cavity is applied to the pelvic floor muscles and bladder. Some may experience loss of urine during exercise or a sneeze.

Overflow incontinence: Overflow incontinence happens when the bladder cannot hold any more urine, and it usually happens to somebody who has incomplete bladder emptying. We usually would see this potentially in someone who’s had an enlarged prostate. I always explain it to my patients as if you’ve got a glass holding water. It can only hold so much at one time before overflowing. I also commonly see this type for female-identified folks who have a prolapse of that bladder where they’re not able to empty their bladder as much.

Functional incontinence: This type is for someone who has a physical or cognitive limitation that disrupts their ability to get to the restroom in time. For example, someone who has severe arthritis or someone who is using an assistive device may take a little bit longer to get to the restroom. This type is also commonly found among those with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Mixed incontinence: This type can be any of the above types of incontinence. I explain this to my patients by drawing a Venn diagram and showing how all of the types can overflow.

Regarding who incontinence impacts the most, we are going to see this more among those who identify as female, especially as they age. However, incontinence really can affect anyone. We assume that incontinence only happens to those who are in their 60s-70s or children learning to potty-train, but really, it impacts everyone. I was recently talking to a group of female adolescent athletes struggling with incontinence, and I think that we can forget how many female adolescents are experiencing urinary incontinence. For females, the situations that will increase their risk rate are going to be pregnancy and the type of delivery. Menopause can also cause incontinence. Incontinence affects over 25 million individuals across the U.S., and it does not discriminate. Unfortunately, I do think that because of social determinants of health, some populations are significantly more impacted than others. 1 in 4 men admit to regular bladder leaks and 1 out of 2 women report experiencing bladder leaks. When we think about how incontinence impacts lives, people’s dignity and social lives are under fire. Many of the following questions are asked:

Do I smell?
Will I be able to find a restroom nearby while I am out?
If I have to leave during a movie, will I miss out on things?
Will I have access to my products when I need them?

These all can greatly impact mental health. I don’t think we truly grasp and talk about the way incontinence impacts people’s mental health and how it limits people from getting out and doing things. This limitation can lead to anxiety, depression, stress and more. People have lost jobs because of having to leave their desks so frequently to use the restroom. There is a great fear around potentially having an accident and then the shame that it could lead to. There is a stigma around incontinence, and we need to be able to talk more freely about it, as it has happened to all of us at some point. Normalizing incontinence isn’t necessarily the goal, but rather, it is to communicate that it is common and not normal, but there are things we can do about it.

What are incontinence products? Which health plans cover these products and what is covered?

A2: Mica: At a fundamental level, a lot of what we deal with with incontinence management is your disposable wearable incontinence products. You might hear them referred to as “Depends” on the kind of protective underwear style, or you may hear them colloquially referred to as “diapers,” although we try not to use the word diaper because of dignity issues that it can create with the adult population, and then you will also hear about bladder control pads which are often referred to as a Poise pad, typically for a female patient with lite to moderate incontinence. Aeroflow Urology prides itself in providing these types of products to patients through insurance. We don’t treat the underlying condition but rather help individuals manage the symptoms as best we can relative to each person’s unique needs. Having worked with direct patient care for more than 10 years, I would like to highlight that each patient we work with requires a very nuanced approach to care. Our teams like to take a holistic approach to consider what else might be going on in a patient’s life that will impact their incontinence product needs. For example, our team will ask questions like:

Are they in the process of losing or gaining weight?
Is their mobility diminishing?
Are they on any medications?

We strive to ensure that each patient gets the product that best suits their needs. Since most of these products are primarily available over the counter, we see many patients self-managing, and often, they aren’t purchasing the best product to help manage their instances of incontinence. I will also say that is a really underrated aspect of the Medicaid population. To speak to the insurance piece, the only payor category in the United States that currently covers incontinence products is the Medicaid population and so we at Aeroflow Health concern ourselves primarily with identifying patients within the Medicaid and Medicaid Dual population who have coverage of these products and then providing a solution for them. Though Medicaid represents a considerable percentage of insured lives in America, it certainly leaves a huge delta between the total number of people who may have this condition and people who do not have a framework to receive the products they need.

What are the most common misconceptions about incontinence products?

Mica: I can give you a very common example of one we deal with daily and it’s around a Brief product, which is a product with tabs. If someone has fecal incontinence, a brief product will always be the most appropriate product to help manage this condition, but we see so many challenges with patient adherence because of the dignity aspect of accepting a product with tabs. This type of product can be infantilizing and can make someone more acutely aware of their condition, which can cause shame. This type of scenario often leads to patients self-managing with protective underwear or, even worse, with something like a bladder control pad. Our team has to have hard conversations with patients to let them know that the products they are currently using might not be clinically best for their condition. Even despite having these conversations, we see significant adherence complications in getting patients to accept those products.

Ryan: Aeroflow is passionate about trying to normalize the conversation of incontinence and raising more awareness to how many people it does affect. We also hope to educate on the solutions that are available to people so that they don’t be limited in their lifestyle.

How does Aeroflow overcome the barrier of keeping in contact with patients? How do you continue to engage the patients?

Mica: For Aeroflow Urology, it’s taking a lot of extra time and care to be intentional with patients during the intake phone call. When someone reaches out to us, that initial call can often be a 30-45 minute conversation. We not only walk the patient through the products available but also ask questions like:

Do you have a mobile number where we can reach you?
What is your preferred method of communication?
Who is your emergency contact?
Do you have multiple addresses?
Do you have someone who assists in your care?

Going the extra mile to obtain those supplemental data points is very helpful! For the Medicaid population, there is a higher percentage of those using prepaid cell phones and lower utilization rates of email, so having all of this additional information can be helpful in reaching patients if they become hard to reach. We also see patients who experience disruptions in their coverage, and we have to help explain to the patients the details of their insurance. So, really, we’re expanding our depth of explanation from just incontinence product knowledge to health insurance education because that’s what it takes to keep these patients engaged for the long haul.

Regarding engagement, incontinence products are a monthly cycle, which means we’re in contact with our patients at least once a month. It may be as simple as checking in to see if they need a resupply, but we’re reaching out to all of our patients monthly. We often find that when we obtain a patient’s physician information and reach out to the doctor to let them know that the patient is interested in receiving incontinence products through insurance, often that is the first time the physician has heard that their patient is experiencing incontinence. This goes to show that, left to their own devices, many patients are suffering in silence, self-managing as best they can, and because they aren’t engaging with their physician, they aren’t going through the additional screenings. One of the most impactful ways that Aeroflow partners with health plans is by encouraging patients to engage with their providers and insurance companies. We have a proximity that the payor often doesn’t have.

Access to care is often not evenly distributed. How does health equity impact incontinence care rates?

Mica: I will say that very few people are incontinent just because they are incontinent. There are often interrelated conditions that all play a part in management. Typically, these patients are speaking to so many different specialists that when we ask them who to talk to regarding their incontinence needs, they don’t know who to direct us to. This is where I see some challenges from the provider/direct patient care of understanding and adherence.
Aleece: Access to care has gotten a little better since COVID-19 and the rise of telehealth and telemedicine. However, I do think that there is value in seeing someone in person so that I can check urine samples and see how much they have left in their bladder. For me, I am always looking at what resources are available in the community for my patients. Is it a mobile health unit or home healthcare? A lot of the time, people are not aware of the resources available to them. I function as a matchmaker sometimes just to raise awareness of the resources available. There is also a huge shortage right now for urologists who can compact this access problem. I have to really get creative on ways to provide access to patients.

Ryan: Aeroflow recognizes that there is a transportation need as it relates to access, and we’re seeing that Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and many Medicaid plans are trying to determine those Social Determinants of Health and the insecurities that are being created. This is an opportunity for us internally to help identify these data points and relay those back to health plans. I think there is a lot of opportunity around interoperability as we think about caring for these patients holistically.

How do we treat incontinence, and how often does successful treatment occur?

Aleece: I am so optimistic. I usually say that we can typically make most patients better. What the degree of better looks like usually depends on each individual, their diagnosis, and what their support system looks like. I really recommend patients see a pelvic floor therapist. There can be some barriers when we talk about occupational therapy or physical therapy subsets. Sometimes, insurance won’t cover these visits, or you’re limited in your visit allowance. For example, if you have 30 visits a year and just had knee surgery, you will have post-surgery therapy to help regain movement. Just this one need could use up all of the allotted visits. These types of physical therapy sessions are often taking precedence for people rather than that of pelvic floor therapy. I have to meet a lot of people where they are for this. There are some oral medications to help, but many people are already taking several other medications, so I have to ask myself if they want to start taking another. Medications are also an additional cost and could complicate the usage of being taken with other pre-existing medicines. Individual treatment and ongoing communication are crucial to successful treatment. Mental health also has a huge impact on incontinence treatment for patients. There is a lot of anxiety, stress, and depression that can come along with incontinence, so pairing patients with a mental health therapist can help streamline successful treatment.

"Aeroflow has allowed me to play with my great-grandchildren, and to go to the grocery store without staying close to a bathroom. My daughter no longer has to be my shopper. Not to mention the money they are saving, which can be used for utilities."

Liz H.

You can schedule time with our team here to learn more about how Aeroflow provides Urological solutions.

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Michael Cantor, M.D.

Ryan Bullock

Aleece Fosnight, MSPAS, PA-C, CSC-S, CSE, NCMP, IF

Aleece serves as the Medical Advisor for Aeroflow Urology and is a board-certified physician assistant specializing in sexual medicine, women’s health, and urology. In 2019, Fosnight opened up her own private practice, the Fosnight Center for Sexual Health, and implemented the sexual health grand rounds curriculum at her local hospital and residency program. Fosnight is also the founder of the Fosnight Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and training of professionals in the sexual health field and providing funding for access to healthcare services in her local community.

Mica Phillips

Mica serves as Vice President of Aeroflow Urology, a subsidiary of Aeroflow Health that is a leading provider of high-quality continence care supplies through insurance. He brings creativity to a sometimes stagnant and complacent industry and tries his best to uncomplicate the complex world of Insurance. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina and holds a Bachelor’s degree in English. In addition to his daily responsibilities, he’s contributed to numerous articles for online journals regarding senior care, incontinence, and navigating insurance benefits.

This content has been reviewed for accuracy by Mike Cantor, Chief Medical Advisor at Aeroflow Health.

Dive into our blog inspired by our webinar, “Food Is Medicine: Empowering Health Plans To Integrate Nutrition for Member Wellness,” to learn about innovative ways to improve member health and well-being. For more comprehensive insights, don’t miss the chance to watch the webinar playback.

What is “Food Is Medicine (FiM)”? What is a “food prescription,” and how is this different from a FiM program? Is FiM a benefit design?

Holly: To be honest, if you ask this question to other people in the field, we’re all going to have slightly different answers, and the reason is that there’s no standardized definition. What we’re seeing in the field right now, especially with the White House commitment, is that the FiM discussion is really turning into a movement. By acknowledging and understanding the value of nutrition as part of healthcare and as part of treatment and prevention, we must acknowledge that we won’t see health outcomes the way that we would like to see them if we don’t understand and acknowledge nutrition and the role of food. When thinking about the role of FiM, I use the terminology “Food is Medicine prescriptions,” and what I am doing by saying this is acknowledging and noticing that we need to put more focus on treatment plans for individuals who might be struggling with food insecurities and/or chronic conditions. Food prescriptions should be part of the continuum of services that healthcare providers engage patients with. This could take on various forms. For example, produce prescriptions, medically tailored groceries or medically tailored meals can all engage patients with optimal nutrition options when living with a chronic disease or medical condition. When we think about benefit design, in my worldview, it’s not just about a program; it’s about how we meet the patients where they are. Every patient will have a different scenario that requires a different treatment plan. For example, if a patient was recently discharged from the hospital, it may be that they need medically tailored meals for a time, and then once fully recovered, they can come off the system. Food should be a part of the discussion for patient treatment plans.

What has the traditional approach to nutrition and FiM been for health plans, and how is that evolving?

Sophie: Traditionally, there hasn’t really been an approach, and now that FiM is becoming more relevant and a more frequented conversation, I think in the literal sense, we see food and nutrition as critical interventions for disease prevention and for treatment. As Holly mentioned earlier, the FiM movement is all about supporting members who need extra support to meet their nutritional needs so they can manage their disease states effectively and have the inputs they need to be successful and food secure. Referring to the FiM program and the defining of what it means for health plans, I see it as a recognition of the broader Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) that go into patients developing disease and addressing these root causes rather than waiting for patients to enter the healthcare system or continue to inundate the issue. Figuring out how to prevent patients from utilizing large portions of the healthcare system and providing them with what they need in order to live a healthy, fulfilled life should be the goal.

Why is Aeroflow Health interested in the Food Is Medicine movement?

Ryan: Our interest in nutrition services and viewing food as medicine began in our Mom and Baby division. We were supplying breastfeeding products and recognized a need to also include lactation counseling as a part of our holistic approach to breastfeeding and providing moms with the resources, products, and education they deserve. In this continued conversation among our team, nutrition services became a topic of consideration, and we started looking at the potential of adding Nutrition Therapy to the Mom and Baby division. These conversations really opened our eyes internally to look at what the other product categories, and disease states are that we focus on, supplying patients with their durable medical equipment products that have a correlation to food. This is how Aeroflow Diabetes became an additional business line for us and, most recently, the addition of Sophie as our Registered Dietitian who provides Medical Nutrition Therapy to qualifying patients.

The “Food Is Medicine” movement is gaining traction. What are some FiM successes? What are the opportunities?

Holly: Before I started my time with The Milken Institute, I was the Chief of Food Policy Planning for the City of Baltimore, and I led the nutrition security response for COVID-19. One of the key lessons that we’re seeing right now in the FiM movement is understanding how important food insecurity plays in impacting health conditions and acknowledging that access alone is not enough. Jumping forward to where we are now, the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, in my opinion, has been one of the greatest successes in mobilizing stakeholders and unifying everyone to point in the same direction. When you look at the successes of the last several years of FiM, I would say we’re finally seeing pockets of pilot programs coming to scale. We are seeing evidence of growth building way beyond 100 to 200 population groups, even in the 2000s, in many states. Also, we’ve seen movement when we look at Medicaid 1115 waivers. Only a couple of years ago, we only saw a handful of states and now we’re seeing 7-12 depending on how you count in their status, whether they’re approved right now or pending, and so I think that we’re pointing in the right direction. As it relates to some of the challenges we are seeing, I believe we need to be ready with implementation strategies when policies and reimbursements scale. We need to look into data, technology, interoperability and where there might be financing gaps regarding reimbursement. A lot of what we’re doing at The Milken Institute is looking at what the future might hold and planning for the next steps if these policies pass.

How would you recommend health plans consider the allocation of financial responsibility for Food is Medicine when there are already federal programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in place?

Holly: When we talk about SNAP, we’re talking about providing supplemental amounts of food that lessen the probability of hunger. SNAP ensures that people do not have to skip meals, but it doesn’t necessarily meet a need when we’re talking about health outcomes and treating disease. Food is Medicine should never replace federal nutrition assistance programs; I see it more as an opportunity to stack benefits. For example, for those on SNAP, we know that by definition, supplemental food only means enough to not be hungry, but the amount of supplemental food provided may not be enough to treat someone in a diseased state.

How can technology, such as telehealth and mobile applications, be utilized to support and empower members in their “Food Is Medicine” journey?

Holly: We’re already seeing quite a bit of movement in this space. For example, we’ve seen some more FiM companies coming on the scene to help with interoperability. Grocery stores, pharmacies, and other third parties are beginning to understand the significance that they play in providing the data they receive back to health plans; however, I don’t believe all of the dots have been connected yet. One of the things that The Milken Institute is learning in our most recent findings related to the role of pharmacies is that pharmacies understand how to stay HIPAA compliant, but oftentimes, those at the front of the store aren’t able to report back to health plans. In addition, there is the issue of ensuring that pharmacists have access to the information they need to provide a patient with the care outlined, and then going the step further would be making sure that the pharmacist is able to communicate to the Registered Dietitian all that they should know.

Ryan: Aeroflow realized that with our close proximity to patients, we could be an integrator of all the moving pieces and touchpoints that often the health plan or provider doesn’t have the opportunity to do. We’re able to synthesize data points within our own system with the patients that we’re servicing and then package up that data to give to health plans. To Holly’s earlier point, in our business, we’re not very connected with pharmacies, and truthfully, it could be beneficial for the Aeroflow clinical team to have the data from pharmacies as they assist and navigate patient circumstances. On the flip side, though, our teams have so much information that we could share back with providers, health plans, and the rest of a patient’s care team; it’s just a matter of navigating the process of making that a reality. For example, when Aeroflow Diabetes is working with a patient to optimize their CGM device and get them set up with our Registered Dietitian, we gather a lot of patient data that a health plan could use to be a closer care partner than they would be otherwise.

What is Aeroflow Health doing to provide nutrition support to members who are in-network?

Sophie: Aeroflow Health is now offering Aeroflow Nutrition Services, a medical nutrition therapy program for patients with chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes. We offer one-on-one and group sessions to empower patients to utilize food to improve their health. Patients meet with a Registered Dietitian and work on dietary changes that can help them lose weight, reduce their A1C, and lower their risk for heart disease. Aeroflow just released a blog that covers in detail what the program includes and how they are trying to be a part of the greater nutrition solution. If you are wanting to learn more, you can check out the blog here.

To learn more about how Aeroflow partners with health plans to provide nutrition services, schedule time with our team.

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Michael Cantor, M.D.

Ryan Bullock

Holly Freishtat

Holly Freishtat is the senior director of Feeding Change at The Milken Institute. Ms. Freishtat is the Senior Director of Feeding Change with The Milken Institute. She is an experienced director, transformative leader, and strategist with a 20-year track record developing and implementing food system policies and programs. Holly served as Baltimore City’s first Food Policy Director and Chief of Food Policy & Planning, where she founded and directed the Baltimore Food Policy Initiative. Holly spent over a decade building an equitable and resilient food environment by creating policies and programs that directly impact health & economic disparities. As a result, Baltimore City has become internationally renowned for innovative food governance and leadership. Holly has received national and international recognition for her public speaking skills and food systems expertise. She has presented at 125 international and national speaking engagements and has been interviewed by CNN, NBC, Huffington Post, Politico, and the Associated Press. In addition, Holly has been awarded numerous accolades for her contributions to food systems, including the Mayor's Medallion for Meritorious Service Award, Maryland Daily Record’s Top 100 women, and the 2016 Milan Urban Food Policy Pact Award. Freishtat has served as a food systems strategist, agricultural marketing director, nutrition educator, and grower. She holds an M.S. in Agriculture, Food, and Environment from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy at Tufts University, a B.S. in Nutrition from the University of Vermont, and an executive certificate from Carey Business School.

Sophie Lauver, MS, RD, LDN, NBC-HWC

Sophie Lauver is a Registered Dietitian and Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach passionate about helping people take control of their health and get excited about nutrition. Sophie has a Bachelor's degree in Communication from the University of Delaware and a Master’s degree in Dietetics from Eastern Michigan University. Sophie has worked in a wide variety of settings, including hospitals, long-term care, rehabilitation, and wellness technology, and most recently, served as the director of the nation's largest diabetes prevention program. Sophie lives in Baltimore, MD, with her husband, infant son, and their two dogs and two cats. When she’s not working with clients, she enjoys cooking, not doing dishes, trying new restaurants, and spending time being active outside (especially on warm and sunny days).

Written by Kristin Polson, Aeroflow Health

Reviewed for accuracy by Amanda Minimi, Aeroflow Health

In early parenthood, few experiences rival the importance and intimacy of breastfeeding. At Aeroflow, we recognize this journey’s profound impact on both parent and child, so we advocate for including lactation classes as an essential component of comprehensive maternal care. These online classes serve as invaluable resources, equipping new parents with the knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary to navigate the complexities of breastfeeding successfully. From understanding lactation physiology to mastering proper latch techniques, our classes provide a solid foundation upon which parents can build a nurturing bond with their infants. Moreover, by offering guidance on pump selection, postpartum support, and practical caregiving tips, we aim to empower parents to overcome challenges and embrace the joys of breastfeeding with clarity and assurance. With offerings available in both English and Spanish, we strive to ensure accessibility and inclusivity for all, fostering a community where every parent feels supported on their unique breastfeeding journey.

Aeroflow supports lactation classes through its robust network of lactation and doula support providers located in all 50 states via telehealth. Our classes cover a variety of topics which include:

Babycare

Our comprehensive newborn care class, tailored for breastfeeding families, covers essential techniques such as bathing, diapering, and feeding cues. Our session also includes guidance on umbilical cord care and baby nail trimming. Additionally, discover the benefits of babywearing for breastfeeding success and parent-baby bonding with hands-on demonstrations and safety tips on various carrier types.

Breastfeeding/Pumping

Our range of classes supports new parents in their breastfeeding journey, with sessions covering essential newborn care, babywearing techniques, lactation and breastfeeding support. These classes provide practical guidance on pump selection, overcoming breastfeeding obstacles, and fostering a supportive community. Aeroflow’s classes empower parents with the knowledge and skills needed for a successful and fulfilling breastfeeding experience.

Childbirth Prep

Aeroflow’s Childbirth Prep Series offers classes tailored to expectant parents, providing evidence-based information on childbirth and breastfeeding. These classes explore the impact of birth events on breastfeeding and empower parents with the knowledge and skills needed for a successful breastfeeding journey. Additionally, sessions include discussions on preparing for childbirth, including vaginal birth and cesarean section, ensuring parents feel confident and supported throughout their birthing experience.

Infant Feeding & Sleep

Aeroflow’s Infant Feeding classes offer valuable guidance on introducing solid foods to breastfed babies, emphasizing age-appropriate choices and maintaining breastmilk supply. Additionally, our Infant Sleep sessions provide essential information on fostering healthy sleep habits for breastfed babies, including recognizing sleep cues and establishing routines that maximize rest for the entire family.

Maternity Leave

This class provides lactating moms with strategies for navigating their maternity leave successfully, whether working on-site or remotely. The class offers guidance on advocating for lactation needs at work, creating pumping schedules, and developing feeding plans to maintain the breastfeeding relationship between mom and baby.

Aeroflow’s lactation classes, when covered, are offered to patients as part of their Aeroflow Breastpumps experience when shopping for a breast pump. A member completes our Qualify Through Insurance form online, shops for their breast pump and selects classes that are of interest to them. It is that easy!

To add this offering for your members, contact our team today!

Amanda Minimi

Amanda Minimi serves as the director of Corporate Development at Aeroflow Health. In her role, Amanda oversees business development activities, program development, and payor solutions across all lines of business, including Medicare, Medicaid, and the commercial market. As the Director of Corporate Development, she leads a team of skilled individuals focused on business development, advocacy, and business support.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, August 31). Breastfeeding report card. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/reportcard.htm

Haley Bennett, MPH

In observance of Public Health Week 2024, this review underscores the imperative need for equitable healthcare access across the United States. Especially in expansive rural landscapes, the demand for accessible and equitable healthcare is evident. We will explore the strategic integration of telehealth appointments conducted by lactation consultants and doulas, as well as shed light on the consequential challenges posed by the lack of telehealth coverage by insurance companies. Embark on a journey to explore how telehealth is breaking down barriers and providing a lifeline for rural communities facing the unique challenges of lactation support.

Unraveling the Rural Health Dilemma

Rural communities face unique challenges in accessing high-quality healthcare, highlighted by the 2022 findings from the March of Dimes Maternity Care Desert Report. While not explicitly addressing lactation concerns, the report underscores the overall inadequacy of maternal support nationwide. As featured in the CDC’s 2022 report, it is clear that there has been a substantial decline in breastfeeding during the initial six months of an infant’s life. This underscores the necessity for improved assistance to mothers on their breastfeeding journey, extending beyond the hospital setting well into the postpartum period.

Picture a small town where the nearest lactation consultant is hours away, posing a daunting challenge for new mothers. The lack of accessible support services leaves these women feeling isolated, navigating the intricacies of breastfeeding on their own. This rural health dilemma is not just a statistic; it’s the real narrative of people striving for the best possible start for their infants.

In this landscape with scarce connectivity and limited resources, traditional support falls short. Mothers yearn for expert advice, reassurance, and a sense of community beyond geographic boundaries. Here, telehealth emerges as a beacon of hope, crafting a new story of inclusivity, accessibility, and empowerment.

Geographic Isolation:

Geographically isolated rural areas pose significant barriers for residents accessing healthcare, particularly expectant mothers. As explained in a 2023 Ballard Brief written by David Clove. Residents travel twice as far as their urban counterparts to access healthcare, encountering challenges such as further facility proximity, lack of transportation, and communication barriers. These issues, compounded by socioeconomic factors, emphasize the urgent need for comprehensive healthcare solutions, intensifying struggles, especially concerning lactation.

Scarce Resources:

Geographically isolated rural areas, characterized by extensive distances and low population density, present substantial challenges for expectant mothers accessing healthcare. The logistical hurdles, including limited facility proximity, transportation constraints, and communication barriers, underscore the need for urgent and accessible healthcare solutions, exacerbating difficulties, particularly in lactation support.

Shortage of Medical Professionals:

The shortage of medical professionals, particularly in breastfeeding and prenatal education, poses a critical challenge in rural areas, straining healthcare resources and limiting options for expectant mothers. A National Library of Medicine article reveals the impractical time demands for primary care physicians, which are typically the only available options in rural areas. This further contributes to adverse health outcomes and increased healthcare costs for both mothers and infants.The absence of telehealth and mandated nurse-to-patient ratios compounds the issue, potentially leaving some mothers without adequate support during labor. This substantial deficit in medical professionals, especially in preventative medicine, plays a pivotal role in the widespread healthcare challenge in rural areas.

Insurance Coverage for Telehealth Services:

Insufficient insurance coverage for telehealth services poses a significant barrier, particularly impacting expectant mothers in rural areas as they navigate healthcare challenges. The lack of comprehensive policies for telehealth, covering services like lactation consultants and doula care, creates a substantial obstacle, hindering access to vital virtual consultations. This limitation not only obstructs lactation and doula support but extends to various aspects of maternal care, encompassing routine virtual appointments and preventative measures.

The Potential of Telehealth: Enhancing Maternal Care Access

In an era where Medicaid covers 42% of US births, telehealth lactation providers are adopting an equity-driven approach to enhance maternal care access. Serving as a catalyst, telehealth not only bridges geographical divides but also tackles healthcare disparities for expectant mothers in underserved regions. This innovative solution facilitates virtual consultations, connecting mothers with healthcare providers and delivering essential prenatal care, lactation consulting, and preventive services.

As telehealth becomes more accessible, its potential to reduce healthcare costs and improve overall maternal care is increasingly evident. Engaging in virtual consultations with a doula has been shown to substantially lower C-section rates. A recent study indicates when mothers who have previously undergone a C-section, and engage in two or more doula visits virtually, their odds of having another cesarean are reduced by 60%. (Maven, 2023).

This exciting discovery suggests that virtual consultations have the potential to yield similar positive impacts as in-person visits. We strongly encourage insurance companies to consider incorporating telehealth as a legitimate avenue for care, recognizing its ability to address maternal healthcare challenges and contribute to a more inclusive and cohesive approach.

Strategies for Policy Change: Advocating for Inclusive Telehealth Coverage

Recognizing the distinctive challenges faced by expectant mothers in rural America, this section emphasizes the importance of comprehensive insurance coverage for telehealth services and outlines actionable strategies for policy reform that address the multifaceted healthcare needs of rural communities. Engaging in crucial conversations, fostering community involvement, and forging collaborative partnerships emerge as pivotal strategies.

Advocating for Evidence-Based Lactation and Doula Coverage via Telehealth:

Promote evidence-based maternal services that harness the transformative capabilities of telehealth
Highlight success stories of mothers who have obtained access to care through telehealth and have obtained tangible outcomes, resulting in reduced maternal healthcare costs.
Collaborate with your community partners: healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers to develop telehealth guidelines tailored to the needs of expectant mothers in rural areas.

Supporting Telehealth Reimbursement Approaches in Policies

Survey your healthcare providers and obtain feedback on what they feel an ideal policy would be. (i.e provider type, reimbursement rates, cpt codes, etc.).
Review policies in neighboring states for barriers and/ or policy replication
Collaborate with policymakers to create financial incentives for insurance companies that adopt inclusive telehealth coverage.

Expanding Specialized Providers in Maternal Care:

Advocate for the expansion of specialized telehealth providers focused on maternal care in rural regions (Doula, Lactation Consultants, Midwives, etc.)
Collaborate with board associations and doula certification organizations to encourage the expansion of RN licensing and Doula certification recognition within their state.
Propose incentives or grants to attract specialized providers to underserved rural areas, ensuring a robust network of professionals offering comprehensive maternal care services both in person and via telehealth.

Implementation of these strategies actively contributes to reshaping policies that foster inclusive telehealth coverage. This initiative envisions a future where maternal care in rural America is more accessible and equitable, aligning with the goals and responsibilities of legislation and policy makers.

An Evolving Landscape of Unity and Accessible Care

As we conclude our exploration of the transformative landscape of telehealth in maternal care, a vision of unified and accessible healthcare, particularly in rural America, takes center stage. The collaborative efforts of dedicated advocates and individual initiatives have not only highlighted challenges in rural care deserts but have also charted a strategic path forward. Despite obstacles, the steadfast belief endures that every expectant individual deserves comprehensive and equitable healthcare, regardless of their location or financial circumstances.

If you would like more information regarding how you can advocate and build health equity for your members through telehealth, please email our Strategic Partnerships team at strategic.partnerships@aeroflowinc.com or schedule time with us below.

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References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, August 31). Breastfeeding report card. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/reportcard.htm

Clove, D. (2023, August 2). Healthcare access disparities among rural populations in the United States. Ballard Brief. https://ballardbrief.byu.edu/issue-briefs/healthcare-access-disparities-among-rural-populations-in-the-united-states

March of Dimes. (n.d.). Medicaid Coverage of Births: United States, 2020. March of Dimes | PeriStats. https://www.marchofdimes.org/peristats/data?reg=99&top=11&stop=154&lev=1&slev=1&obj=18

Maternity Care Deserts Report. March of Dimes. (n.d.). https://www.marchofdimes.org/maternity-care-deserts-report#:~:text=U.S.%20(2022%20REPORT)-,NOWHERE%20TO%20GO%3A%20MATERNITY%20CARE%20DESERTS%20ACROSS%20THE%20U.S.%20(2022,care%20and%20no%20obstetric%20providers

Maven Clinic. (n.d.). Association Between Doula use on a Digital Health Platform… : Obstetrics & Gynecology. Obstetrics & Gynecology. https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/fulltext/2024/02000/association_between_doula_use_on_a_digital_health.4.aspx

Porter, J., Boyd, C., Skandari, M. R., & Laiteerapong, N. (2023, January). Revisiting the time needed to provide adult primary care. Journal of general internal medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9848034/

This content has been reviewed for accuracy by Mike Cantor, Chief Medical Advisor at Aeroflow Health.

Dive into our blog inspired by our webinar, “Data Driven Strategies: Harnessing The Unanticipated Power of Partnerships In Value-Based Care,” to discover the opportunities Aeroflow Health brings to health plan value-based care initiatives. From tailored strategic alignment and seamless data integration to quality measures, innovative solutions, and cost-effective strategies, we’re dedicated to exceeding expectations. For a deeper understanding and comprehensive insights, don’t miss the chance to watch the webinar playback.

How can health plans effectively collaborate with their provider community, including DME providers, to ensure a seamless and coordinated approach to delivering value-based care?

Amanda: Immediately, I think of the phrase “building a care team,” and I think it’s essential to recognize that there are multiple providers that play a part in a patient’s care journey. In our experience, as a DME, we’ve seen patient journey mapping to be very helpful in the collaboration process. Understanding who the patient is engaging with and when they are doing so, helps us to pinpoint patient journeys that have gone well that we would want to try and duplicate and also those who haven’t had a positive journey, so that we can understand where gaps in care might be present. I believe many solutions are in place that ensure a seamless and coordinated care approach, and when health plans look at unlikely providers like DME, there are more significant resources that can be tapped into.

Ryan: Opening up lines of communication with health plans and DME suppliers is crucial. When health plans understand the touch points that we have with the patients as the medical equipment supplier, and vice versa, when we as the DME understand the journey from a health plan perspective, the patient is able to receive a holistic continuum of care. One way in particular that Aeroflow Health approaches this topic is by providing integrated solutions where and when the patient wants to be met. We also have seen this come into play regarding “notification of pregnancy.” In many cases, we are able to partner early with these moms in their maternal journey and provide resources like breast pumps and education. For example, I know that through our partnership with Sentara Health, we’ve been able to impact many mothers.

Could you share examples or success stories where health plans have successfully integrated DME providers into their value-based care initiatives, resulting in improved patient outcomes?

Kate: Sentara has had a very successful partnership with Aeroflow, specifically with our Mom & Baby program. One of the many advantages has been receiving member- level data, which has allowed us to reach out in a more timely manner and actively engage our members where they are. Receiving ongoing data like “notification of pregnancy” has been huge for us. This has helped us know when to reach out to members and engage them with our programs regarding breastfeeding and other additional educational resources. Aeroflow and Sentara’s goals align, and this has allowed us to utilize and leverage the information we receive. We want positive patient experiences for all of our members, so when we hear that our partnership with Aeroflow is closing gaps in care like breast pump utilization and education on breastfeeding that leads to moms being able to breastfeed in their desired timeframe, we’re thrilled. Being able to partner with Aeroflow in a member’s journey from conception to post-partum has allowed Sentara to offer programs of longevity.

Amanda: To piggyback off Kate, Aeroflow has been able to do more than just provide a data feed; we’re able to extend trust by notifying patients that they are going to be receiving outreach from their health plan partner. This warm handoff encourages and facilitates better engagement and provides a sense of empowerment for patients. The secondary piece is collaboration. Early on, we discussed with Sentara the pieces of communication that they wanted their members to be aware of, and Aeroflow was able to provide that wraparound service for them.

How can health plans leverage data and analytics to gain insights into the patient journey and identify opportunities for collaboration with DME providers to enhance the overall quality of care?

Amanda: I think notifications of pregnancy are just the start. When we map out the patient journey, the points of follow-up are made clear, and health plans and DMEs are able to see the gaps in care where we as a team can collaborate to intervene. Health literacy, in particular, is a huge opportunity for collaboration. Most people don’t understand insurance at a fundamental level, and Aeroflow has really been able to step in the gap to help educate patients and provide resources that make the often stressful circumstances less uncomfortable.

Lauren: Not only has Aeroflow Health been dedicated to providing patients with the supplies they need, like breast pumps and CPAP devices, but we’ve also been a partner in education through transparency that has built trust. We do the heavy lifting for patients as far as working with their insurance plan provider and determining the services and supplies that they are eligible for through their insurance. We’re able to lay out in a clear, concise manner what benefits are available and then provide any counseling or education they need along the way in their choices. We’ve also been able to learn what modality of communication is best for patients which we are able to relay to health plans to assist in their engagement strategies. We help health plans meet their members where and how they would prefer.

What do health plans have to gain by partnering with DME providers?

Amanda: DME vendors are definitely the unexpected partner. This is unfortunate as DME’s are one of the most engaged partners in care for patients. There is a great opportunity for health plans to build bridges of trust between the patient, health plan and medical equipment provider.

Ryan: Trust in healthcare is very important when it comes to the continuum of care for patients. When health plans choose to collaborate and open lines of communication with the DME provider, the DME provider can help drive the health plans’ overarching engagement goals. DME providers often have valuable data such as social determinants of health, mental health assessments and more.

What are some challenges or barriers that health plans face when trying to align with the provider community, including the DME providers? What is being done to address these challenges?

Amanda: A couple of barriers come to mind. Often, we put so much emphasis on the financial model of value-based care models and so you’ll see like capitation or sole sourcing, which is of course the goal that we’re all marching after. We all want to have some financial gain and achievement that generates a lower cost to the patient and satisfies the providers and health plan partners, but where I believe we potentially hit some failures is when this becomes the key driver. When we don’t ask questions like, “what is the patient actually doing and how is the patient actually navigating through this?” it becomes a more substantial burden on our health plan partners. I think if we can look at who’s already in the markets, get an assessment of how they’re actually performing in those markets, what the perception by the provider, health plan and patient communities is and how they are all engaging together, I think that’ll give us a good indicator of who we should be pursuing a value-based partnership with. We spend a lot of time looking into complaints and overall satisfaction levels instead of looking deeper into data like Net Promoter Scores and other reports of patient satisfaction. I also think there has to be some sort of reward mechanism that incentivizes a positive experience. It takes a team being aligned on goals to achieve well-rounded care.

Kate: I think some of the obvious challenges and barriers include communication, collaboration and goal alignment. As a health plan, we want to see increased patient engagement and member experience but we also want more positive health outcomes.
A part of this is increasing access for the members to get what they need and that’s where a DME plays a crucial part. If a patient doesn’t have access to the products and supplies they need, they are unable to meet their care goals. Years ago, when Sentara was researching providers that could supply products and coinciding programs that had a wraparound care approach, we found Aeroflow. This really led to our decision of partnership.

Lauren: Over the course of healthcare history, it’s not been common for patients to have a lot of choice as it relates to healthcare. Aeroflow understands this sore spot and has built out experiences for patients where they can feel in control of their health journey. For example, for those who choose to breastfeed, selecting a breast pump is an incredibly personal decision, and we understand the value of giving moms the choice of which breast pump suits their individual needs. Another piece of this is the additional piece of being able to provide lactation support and education via telehealth. Aeroflow is able to bridge the gap here. The convenience of utilizing these services leads to more moms needing the education they need to start breastfeeding or to continue even when difficulties arise.

Can you provide insights into the role of technology in facilitating communication and collaboration between health plans and their provider community, especially DME providers, to deliver more patient-centric and value-based care?

Lauren: Technology has made our processes more efficient for both our patients and customer service teams. It has also allowed us the time and flexibility to provide more of a white-glove solution for our patients that aren’t as comfortable with technology. We’ve been able to put more intentional time and care towards that more at-risk patient base and make sure they aren’t lost in the process.

To learn more about how Aeroflow partners with health plans to provide value-based care solutions, subscribe to our email communications here.

Michael Cantor, M.D.

Ryan Bullock

Amanda Minimi

Amanda is the Director of Corporate Development at Aeroflow Healthcare, the largest provider of breastfeeding equipment and services in the nation. Amanda has led Aeroflow Healthcare's health plan partnership initiatives where there collaboration-based solutions have led to better outcomes through high patient engagement and increased instances and duration of breastfeeding. Amanda also serves as the co-chair of AAHomeCare's Breastfeeding Coalition, a team that works with states and health plans to advocate to reduce barriers in access to breastfeeding.

Kate Maas

Kate Maas has focused her nearly 20-year career specializing in Medicaid populations. She is the Manager of Marketing, Development and Outreach at Sentara Health Plans–Virginia’s largest Medicaid plan. She has held health plan and managed care leadership roles for the past 12 years. With a Master of Public Health (MPH) from the joint Eastern Virginia Medical School and Old Dominion University program, Kate is an expert in maternal and child health, as well as program development for member and community engagement.

Lauren Bennett

Lauren Bennett is Chief Operating Officer for Aeroflow Health, where she leads national operational performance and experience. Lauren joined Aeroflow Health in 2014 and has held a variety of leadership roles within the company in strategy, experience, innovation, data analytics and growth. In her current role, Lauren oversees more than 200 operations employees and leaders across multiple business areas at Aeroflow Health. Lauren's priority is improving the experience for patients, health plans, providers and employees. Previously, Lauren was Vice President of Aeroflow Sleep and Director of Sales Operations for Aeroflow Breastpumps. She is known for driving innovation and efficiency through implementing state of the art automation with a goal of delivering a seamless patient experience

Written by Kristin Polson

Senior Marketing Manager

This content has been reviewed for accuracy by Ryan Bullock, Chief Strategy Officer

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) made significant changes to the ordering process for positive airway pressure (PAP) and respiratory assist device (RAD) supplies. These changes, outlined in a Dear Physician Letter from the Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractor (DME MAC) Medical Directors, aim to simplify the Standard Written Order (SWO) for supplies. This landmark change underscores the dedication CMS has towards reducing administrative barriers that prevent access to care.

The update encourages physicians to use general descriptions like “CPAP Mask” or “Mask – Fit to Comfort” to accommodate mask variations without requiring a new SWO for each change. This flexibility not only reduces administrative burdens by ordering providers and DME suppliers but also ensures patients receive the most suitable masks and supplies without delays.

Flexibility for Physicians:

Physicians are now freed from the previous obligation to specify the mask type (e.g., full-face mask, nasal mask, nasal cushions, etc.) when prescribing items such as PAP devices and their associated components. This change allows physicians to issue a more general prescription, reducing the need for extensive communication with DME suppliers as patients explore different mask options.

Impact on Patient Adherence:

Aligning the SWO with more generic terms fosters a patient-centric approach, guaranteeing convenient access to the most suitable mask without delays caused by providers seeking updated documentation.

Addressing Supplier Concerns:

The SWO requires all items that will be billed must be separately listed on the prescription. It states, “For supplies – In addition to the description of the base item, the DMEPOS order/prescription may include all concurrently ordered supplies that are separately billed (list each separately)” Both the mask and the interface must be listed separately. However, the interface can/should be listed as “Mask Interface” instead of “Mask Cushions.” Mask interface allows suppliers to bill either pillow or cushion whereas “Mask Cushions” limits suppliers to providing cushions only.

These updates from CMS represent a significant step forward in streamlining the ordering process for PAP and RAD supplies. Aeroflow Health remains committed to championing the broader adoption of these updated policies across more health plans. These changes, aimed at reducing administrative burdens and promoting patient adherence, align with the goals and objectives shared by our health plan partners.We are excited to see the positive impact these updates will have on patient care and look forward to continuing to work together to improve health outcomes for all.

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Written by Sophie Lauver, MS, RD, LDN, NBC-HWC

Registered Dietitian for Aeroflow Health

Nutrition plays a significant role in health and Americans are becoming increasingly aware of its importance. The prevalence of chronic disease is forcing a shift in focus towards nutrition, giving rise to the ‘Food Is Medicine’ movement, into the spotlight as Americans look to avoid medications and take their health into their own hands. What we eat is directly tied to our health outcomes. However, there seems to be a lack of understanding about what foods in our diet are detrimental to our health.

The Standard American Diet is high in:

Saturated fat
Excess calories
Red meat
Sodium
Processed foods
Refined grains
Added sugars

The calorie-dense and nutritionally depleted nature of the Standard American Diet is a significant contributing factor to the over two-thirds of Americans who are overweight or obese. This diet also plays a significant role in the increase in chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and stroke. Looking at the top ten leading causes of death in the US, heart disease and cancer are the top two. Type 2 diabetes, also on the list, is not far behind.

This dietary pattern is illustrated in a 2010 report from the National Cancer Institute showing that nearly the entire US consumes a diet that does not adhere to the current dietary recommendations. Over 75% of men and women of all ages were estimated to be eating a diet below the recommended intake of fruit and almost 90% of men and women were below the recommended intake of vegetables. These numbers come with great consequences. An unhealthy diet contributes to approximately 678,000 deaths each year in the U.S.

The Current Nutrition Landscape and Type 2 Diabetes

Thirty-eight million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes (90-95% being type 2 diabetes) another 1.2 million are diagnosed every year. For many patients, receiving a diabetes diagnosis can be life-changing. Having diabetes puts you at a higher risk for comorbidities, or having multiple medical conditions at once. People with diabetes are twice as likely to have heart disease or a stroke compared to someone without. High blood sugar, which is a key characteristic of diabetes, can damage your blood vessels and nerves over time. Uncontrolled diabetes and persistent high glucose levels can lead to blindness, amputations, kidney disease, sexual dysfunction, infections, and poor wound healing.

To prevent and effectively manage type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases, nutrition education must be prioritized.. Unfortunately, the general lack of awareness and access to nutrition education only furthers the growing numbers of those living with chronic diseases.. Barriers like finances, insurance coverage and dietician availability all lend to the growing challenge for patients to receive the nutrition counseling they need. Additionally, those who are overweight or obese may have had negative experiences with a medical professional when discussing their weight and diet that has created a fear or stigma around discussing their health with a professional.

An Emerging Solution – Medical Nutrition Therapy

Medical nutrition therapy is an evidence-based, client-driven process for managing or treating medical conditions through nutrition. Medical nutrition therapy is delivered by a Registered Dietitian.

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are food and nutrition experts who:

Have a minimum of a graduate degree from an accredited dietetics program
Complete a supervised practice requirement
Pass a national exam
Continue professional development throughout their careers.

This title ensures that the professional has adequate training and provides evidence-based interventions. Importantly, titles like “nutritionist” don’t require any specific education or training. The Registered Dietitian assesses a patient’s nutritional status, recommends dietary changes, and supports the patient through counseling strategies that promote long-term behavior change.

The Benefits of Medical Nutrition Therapy for a Patient with Type 2 Diabetes

Medical nutrition therapy and lifestyle intervention improve conditions like obesity, inactivity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Diabetes is a chronic disease where dietary and physical activity interventions can make a measurable impact. Type 2 diabetes can be well managed and even put into remission with quality diet and exercise.

For patients with diabetes, it may feel like there’s no right answer when grocery shopping, planning meals, and dining out. They may feel isolated from family and friends due to different dietary needs and may develop fears of food due to misinformation about certain food groups. Also, people who are overweight or obese often are assigned stigmas due to their weight and navigating day-to-day life in settings built for smaller-bodied people can be physically challenging.

Registered Dietitians partner with patients and help them achieve key habits including:

A diet rich in whole grains, lean protein, fiber, and plant foods
A diet low in saturated fat, sodium, and meat
Mild to moderate weight loss
150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity physical activity
Stress reduction
Familial, professional, and community support

Registered Dietitians meet patients where they are and help them work towards sustainable lifestyle changes. These changes are transformative for reducing the risk of disease complications and increasing quality of life. More insurance plans are covering medical nutrition therapy, making this life-changing service increasingly available.

Aeroflow Nutrition Services

At Aeroflow Health, we recognize the need for increased access to nutrition education and empower patients to support their health. Personalized medical nutrition therapy helps patients manage chronic disease and prevent complications in a way that works for their lifestyle. This growing gap in care spurred our teams to launch Aeroflow Nutrition Services.

Aeroflow Nutrition Services, initially targeting patients with type 2 diabetes, will simplify and support nutrition counseling by providing patients with access to a Registered Dietitian, often with zero out-of-pocket costs.

Patients will receive a transparent, compassionate customer experience from a Registered Dietitian. During sessions, detailed notes will be recorded and available for the patient’s complete medical team. Aeroflow’s team has a keen understanding of insurance that allows patients to utilize their full insurance benefits to their advantage. We remove the stress associated with finding a qualified Registered Dietitian who accepts their insurance plan. From the start, patients will be made aware of how many visits are covered and all care is also provided via telehealth, alleviating the need to travel to a provider’s office. Additionally, with Aeroflow Health’s network, patients can also get connected to additional products and supplies for diabetes, incontinence, blood pressure monitoring, sleep apnea, and wound care.

The program will expand to provide group medical nutrition therapy sessions, around topics such as introductory nutrition, heart health, and weight loss. Group-based sessions will allow patients to learn key nutrition concepts in a supportive and interactive environment of their peers with a Registered Dietitian facilitator. Aeroflow Nutrition Services’ next phase will expand to see patients with a variety of medical concerns, carrying out our mission of providing nutrition education to as many patients as possible.

To learn how Aeroflow Health can support your members and gain more insights, subscribe to our communications.

Sophie Lauver, MS, RD, LDN, NBC-HWC

Sophie Lauver is a Registered Dietitian and Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach passionate about helping people take control of their health and get excited about nutrition. Sophie has a Bachelor's degree in Communication from the University of Delaware and a Master’s degree in Dietetics from Eastern Michigan University. Sophie has worked in a wide variety of settings including hospitals, long-term care, rehabilitation, and wellness technology, and most recently, served as the director of the nation's largest diabetes prevention program. Sophie lives in Baltimore, MD with her husband, infant son, and their two dogs and two cats. When she’s not working with clients, she enjoys cooking, not doing dishes, trying new restaurants, and spending time being active outside (especially on warm and sunny days).

References

https://nccd.cdc.gov/dnpao_dtm/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=DNPAO_DTM.ExploreByTopic&islClass=OWS&islTopic=&go=GO

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2937576/

https://www.healthdata.org/

https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/statistics/about-diabetes

Amanda Minimi, MSBA

Director of Corporate Development at Aeroflow Health

This content has been reviewed for accuracy by Mike Cantor, MD, JD, Chief Medical Advisor for Aeroflow Health.

The US healthcare system has long struggled to create a fair and efficient payment model that supports the needs of patients and rewards payers and providers for providing high-quality care that results in the best health outcomes. Accelerating the tension between efficiency and quality is the pressure to slow and reduce rapidly growing healthcare costs.

Health insurance as we generally think of it today began in the 1930s with the Great Depression. Previously, coverage was less related to health insurance but would be similar to what we refer to was disability insurance today. Until the creation of those health insurance models health care was paid for through “fee for service” (FFS) models where providers received payments when they provided services. Health insurance shielded patients from high and often unexpected health costs, but the lack of incentives to provide comprehensive care led to the development of new approaches. A good example of this new approach is the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model, launched by a group of pediatricians who focused on meeting the needs of sick children who required coordination in navigating between the various specialists responsible for treating their care.

In the 1970s the term Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) was coined by Dr. Paul Ellwood. HMOs offered comprehensive care within a designated provider network in exchange for fixed annual payments, a very different approach than the traditional FFS model. The use of capitated payments created a fixed budget for healthcare expenditures, which incentivized provider network to coordinate care and deliver preventive medicine. HMOs delivered promising but variable results in inpatient care cost reduction.

In an effort to contain inpatient costs, another VBC model was popularized: The Diagnosis Related Grouping (DRG). First piloted in New Jersey, the DRG consisted of a bundled payment made to hospitals for an episode of inpatient acute care, regardless of what the episode actually cost to

deliver. The development of the DRG took into consideration the kinds of care required to produce positive outcomes while avoiding unnecessary costs. This incentivized providers to deliver appropriate level care while minimizing waste.

The HMO model was adapted to Medicare in 1982 by the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA) which established Medicare Part C (now called Medicare Advantage). The following year Medicare policy changed to permit use of DRGs. TEFRA provided new incentives for HMO’s to enroll Medicare beneficiaries on an at-risk basis.

Despite these efforts to manage growing Medicare costs, the 1997 Balanced Budget Act’s (BBA) reduced Medicare rates. This change, coupled with years of minimal payment increases, left hospital systems with low margins, physicians facing burnout, and bankruptcies among health management and delivery organizations. As Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) experienced their own “profitability crisis,” consumer and physician backlash emerged because the general public viewed commercial managed care as responsible for turning physicians into profit-driven entrepreneurs who withheld necessary care to maximize margin. This backlash caused a sharp decline in HMO plans, and fee-for-service payment models became even more dominant. The result is that instead of payers, providers and patients working together, misaligned incentives led to ongoing battles.

In 2006, scholars Michael Porter and Elizabeth Olmsted Teisberg coined the term Value-Based Care in their landmark book Redefining Healthcare. They argued that competition in healthcare should be based on value to the patient instead of shifting costs, increasing bargaining power or restricting services, and that patients should be empowered and remain at the center of health care.

In 2010, after over 75 years of efforts to increase access to affordable and nearly universal health insurance the Affordable Care Act (ACA) introduced comprehensive reforms to expand access and promote value-based principles.

Through the ACA, a new division of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) was created, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), which is focused on developing and testing new payment methodologies (Alternative Payment Models (APMs)). CMMI focuses on improving patient experience of care, improving the health of populations, and reducing per-capita cost of healthcare: the Triple Aim.

Because of their mandate to support innovation and new payment models, CMMI has proposed and tested several innovative models. In 2011, President Obama began advocating for Accountable

Care Organizations (ACOs) for Medicare and Medicaid. ACOs are integrated networks of doctors, hospitals, and other medical care providers that work together with a goal of reducing costs and, if the ACO meets certain benchmarks for quality and costs, it could receive bonuses from the government. The model incentivizes providers to collaborate together and rewards success. ACOs have saved billions of dollars in Medicare costs, and have been adopted by some commercial insurers.

The evolution of VBC payment models continued in April of 2015 with the signing of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) into law. MACRA introduced the Quality Payment Program (QPP) in 2015. This program incentivizes healthcare providers to prioritize quality and value through the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Alternative Payment Models (APMs). MACRA changed the way Medicare physicians are reimbursed and increased funding. It incentivized the use of health information technology by physicians and other providers.

In 2023, the Biden Administration set an ambitious goal which would mark the 100 year journey of insurance: to transition every individual to a value-based model by 2030. The imminent deadline is rapidly approaching while new models are continuing to grow and evolve.

One area that has not changed over the past 100 years is the ebb and flow of incentives among payers, providers, and patients. A clear lesson from this time is that it is critical to appropriately align financial incentives and empower patients to make optimal healthcare decisions. Initiatives that tie health plans and provider organizations together to empower the patient show promising results in improving patient outcomes and delivering true value-based care.

Stay informed and empowered with the latest insights from Aeroflow Health on revolutionizing healthcare through value-based care. Subscribe to our email communications to explore how we leverage value-based care models, drive positive outcomes, and navigate the dynamic landscape of healthcare transformation.

Subscribe Now

Amanda Minimi, MSBA

References

Morrisey, M. (2013) Health Insurance, Second Edition. Health Administration Press.

O’Dell, M. L. (2016). What is a patient-centered medical home?. Missouri medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6139911/

Toner, R. (1993, February 28). Hillary Clinton’s Potent Brain Trust on Health Reform. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1993/02/28/business/hillary-clinton-s-potent-brain-trust-on-health-reform.html

Dhanani, N., O’Leary, J. F., Keeler, E., Bamezai, A., & Melnick, G. (2004, October). The effect of hmos on the inpatient utilization of Medicare beneficiaries. Health services research. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1361086/

Kimberly, John; Pouvourville, Gerard de; d’Aunno, Thomas; D’Aunno, Thomas A. (2008-12-18). “Origins of DRGs in the United States: A technical, political and cultural story”. The Globalization of Managerial Innovation in Health Care. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521885003.

Mayes R. (2005). Medicare and America’s healthcare system in transition: from the death of managed care to the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 and beyond. Journal of health law, 38(3), 391–422.

6 Key Milestones in the History of Full-Risk, Value-Based Care. (n.d.). Chenmed.com. Retrieved from https://www.chenmed.com/sites/default/files/2023-08/108208%20-%20CHENMED%20CORP%20-%20Infographic_%206%20Key%20Milestones%20in%20the%20History%20of%20Full%20Risk%2C%20Value-Based%20Care.pdf.

Forbes Magazine. (2011, March 1). ACOs are obama-speak for hmos. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/2011/02/28/obamacare-aco-hmo-opinions-sally-pipes.html?sh=1c95453b31dc

Value-based care is the future of healthcare. here is its origin story. Enlace Health Value-Based Healthcare. (2022, May 19). https://www.enlacehealth.com/value-based-care-is-the-future-of-healthcare-here-is-its-origin-story/#:~:text=A%20pioneering%20value%2Dbased%20model,several%20primary%20care%20accredited%20organizations.

Macra: MIPS & apms. CMS.gov. (n.d.). https://www.cms.gov/medicare/quality/value-based-programs/chip-reauthorization-act

Press releases CMS announces increase in 2023 in organizations and beneficiaries benefiting from coordinated care in accountable care relationship. CMS.gov Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-announces-increase-2023-organizations-and-beneficiaries-benefiting-coordinated-care-accountable

How Aeroflow Health is transforming postpartum care for moms

Dowload the Survey

Dr. Alena Clark, PhD, MPH, RDN, CLC

Table of Contents

Aeroflow Health has observed that the maternal continuum of care is often incomplete. What has traditionally been missing from the model of care?

When it comes to mental health, what aspects of care have been missing in maternal care? How important is mental health for pregnant people, and how does Canopie provide a solution?

Health plans often have maternal care management programs. What do these programs typically do?

One of the challenges that health plans have is patient engagement. Aeroflow has had several successes with engaging with members. Can you share some of those?

Michael Cantor, M.D.

Ryan Bullock

Anne Wandlund

Jenn Jordan

Nursing Home Minimum Staffing Standards:

Access Standards for Medicaid and CHIP:

State Directed Payments:

Quality Strategy and External Quality Review (EQR):

Medicaid and CHIP Quality Rating System (MAC QRS):

New Guardrails for Plan Compensation and Distribution of Personal Beneficiary Data:

Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSCBI) and Health Equity Analysis:

Integration of Medicare and Medicaid Services:

References:

Table of Contents

What is urinary incontinence? How common is it? How does it affect people’s lives?

What are incontinence products? Which health plans cover these products and what is covered?

What are the most common misconceptions about incontinence products?

How does Aeroflow overcome the barrier of keeping in contact with patients? How do you continue to engage the patients?

Access to care is often not evenly distributed. How does health equity impact incontinence care rates?

How do we treat incontinence, and how often does successful treatment occur?

Michael Cantor, M.D.

Ryan Bullock

Aleece Fosnight, MSPAS, PA-C, CSC-S, CSE, NCMP, IF

Mica Phillips

Table of Contents

What is “Food Is Medicine (FiM)”? What is a “food prescription,” and how is this different from a FiM program? Is FiM a benefit design?

What has the traditional approach to nutrition and FiM been for health plans, and how is that evolving?

Why is Aeroflow Health interested in the Food Is Medicine movement?

The “Food Is Medicine” movement is gaining traction. What are some FiM successes? What are the opportunities?

How would you recommend health plans consider the allocation of financial responsibility for Food is Medicine when there are already federal programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in place?

How can technology, such as telehealth and mobile applications, be utilized to support and empower members in their “Food Is Medicine” journey?

What is Aeroflow Health doing to provide nutrition support to members who are in-network?

Michael Cantor, M.D.

Ryan Bullock

Holly Freishtat

Sophie Lauver, MS, RD, LDN, NBC-HWC

Written by Kristin Polson, Aeroflow Health

Babycare

Breastfeeding/Pumping

Childbirth Prep

Infant Feeding & Sleep

Maternity Leave

Amanda Minimi

References

Haley Bennett, MPH

Unraveling the Rural Health Dilemma

Geographic Isolation:

Scarce Resources:

Shortage of Medical Professionals:

Insurance Coverage for Telehealth Services:

The Potential of Telehealth: Enhancing Maternal Care Access

Strategies for Policy Change: Advocating for Inclusive Telehealth Coverage

Advocating for Evidence-Based Lactation and Doula Coverage via Telehealth:

Supporting Telehealth Reimbursement Approaches in Policies

Expanding Specialized Providers in Maternal Care:

An Evolving Landscape of Unity and Accessible Care

References

Table of Contents

Could you share examples or success stories where health plans have successfully integrated DME providers into their value-based care initiatives, resulting in improved patient outcomes?

How can health plans leverage data and analytics to gain insights into the patient journey and identify opportunities for collaboration with DME providers to enhance the overall quality of care?

What do health plans have to gain by partnering with DME providers?

What are some challenges or barriers that health plans face when trying to align with the provider community, including the DME providers? What is being done to address these challenges?

Can you provide insights into the role of technology in facilitating communication and collaboration between health plans and their provider community, especially DME providers, to deliver more patient-centric and value-based care?

Michael Cantor, M.D.

Ryan Bullock

Amanda Minimi

Kate Maas

Lauren Bennett

Written by Kristin Polson

Flexibility for Physicians:

Impact on Patient Adherence:

Addressing Supplier Concerns: