In-home assessments benefit providers, members

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and our participating health care providers share a mission: to provide our members with the right care at the right time and place. One way we do this is through in-home assessments.

We use the services of several in-home assessment vendors to meet the needs of our members with Medicare Advantage, individual and small group plans who may have difficulty getting to their doctor’s office. During these assessments, a doctor, nurse or physician assistant comes to the member’s home to discuss their medical history and conduct a brief exam. Members are encouraged to invite a caregiver, family member or friend to join them for the assessment.

In-home assessments don’t replace the care a doctor provides or an annual wellness visit. However, they provide members with another opportunity to discuss any symptoms, current medical conditions or health questions they may have.

Here are some other ways that an in-home assessment benefits members:

• It’s free. It’s part of their member benefits, and doesn’t affect their health care coverage, premiums or out-of-pocket costs.
• It’s easy. The visit typically lasts an hour. A licensed medical professional will check basic vital signs, ask some routine health-related questions and answer any questions the member may have.
• It’s helpful. The assessment provides valuable one-on-one time with a health care professional, and also helps members prepare for their annual doctor visit.
• It brings peace of mind. Assessment results are shared with the member and their doctor to support the care they already receive.

Members selected for an in-home assessment may meet one or more of the following criteria:

• They’re not participating in any health and wellness program offered by their health plan.
• They haven’t seen their doctor recently.
• They haven’t taken steps to address any chronic conditions they have.