Humana adds 14 states to home health division
The transition is part of a larger effort to fully integrate Kindred at Home's home-health operations into Humana.
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Health insurer Humana is adding 14 states to its ongoing initiative to rebrand the home health division of Kindred at Home as CenterWell Home Health. KAH home health services have already begun transitioning to the CenterWell brand in a number of other states, with Phase 2 bringing the total up to 21 states overall.
The 14 new states are Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. They join Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon and Washington.
The transition is part of a larger effort to fully integrate Kindred at Home's home health operations into Humana. Last August, Humana announced that it had completed the acquisition of Kindred at Home to reinforce its commitment to invest in home-based clinical solutions.
Humana introduced the CenterWell Home Health brand, along with the first phase of transitioning the home health division of Kindred at Home, on March 1.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT?
The third and final phase of the rebranding initiative is scheduled for early September, when KAH home health operations in 17 additional states are expected to begin the move to CenterWell Home Health. When the rebranding is complete, CenterWell Home Health will support patients from more than 350 locations across 38 states.
The rebranded Kindred at Home locations will now display new interior and exterior signage reflecting the CenterWell Home Health brand. Employees in these locations will receive new uniforms, apparel and other branded materials.
The introduction of CenterWell Home Health is part of a larger effort to brand all of Humana's payer-agnostic healthcare service offerings – open to patients with a variety of health plans, not just Humana – under the name CenterWell.
In March 2021, Humana introduced CenterWell Senior Primary Care, an organization of senior-focused primary care centers across the U.S.
THE LARGER TREND
Last year Humana said it would buy the remaining interest in Kindred at Home from TPG Capital and Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe in a deal that valued Kindred at $8.1 billion, including Humana's existing 40% share, which was valued at $2.4 billion.
The transition to CenterWell Home Health was part of the terms of that original deal. The insurer used a combination of cash and debt financing to pay for the $5.7 billion transactions.
ON THE RECORD
"During the pandemic, the amount of care delivered in the home surged, further validating to patients and providers alike that home is an effective site for the care of many conditions," said Dr. Andy Agwunobi, president of Humana's home business. "As a result, we expect increased levels of adoption of care in the home to continue. So the rollout of the CenterWell Home Health brand comes at a great time. It reinforces our efforts to expand our home health capabilities to meet the needs of our patients."
Twitter: @JELagasse
Email the writer: jeff.lagasse@himssmedia.com
