Commonwealth Care Alliance® to Lead Massachusetts Homebound Vaccination Program

Partnership with Commonwealth of Massachusetts will extend CCA’s vaccination effort to all homebound individuals in the state

BOSTON, MA – March 25, 2021 – Commonwealth Care Alliance® (CCA), an integrated care system serving individuals with significant medical, behavioral health and social needs, will partner with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to lead the state’s effort to vaccinate homebound individuals. CCA was the first integrated plan in Massachusetts to vaccinate its own homebound health plan members beginning in mid-February and has delivered vaccines to nearly 500 homebound individuals. CCA will now expand that program to all homebound individuals in Massachusetts, regardless of health plan.

“CCA is honored to lead this critical mission of vaccinating homebound citizens of Massachusetts,” said Christopher D. Palmieri, President & CEO of Commonwealth Care Alliance. “Since our inception, CCA’s approach to care has been rooted in the community to ensure the most appropriate site of care for the individuals we so proudly serve. Over the past five weeks, we have successfully vaccinated hundreds of our own homebound health plan members, and our team is ready to expand this effort across the state and aid the Commonwealth’s vaccination effort in any way we can.”

The state defines “homebound” as anyone who needs the assistance of two or more people to leave the home. There are approximately 20,000 individuals in Massachusetts who meet this definition, creating a complex logistical challenge for state healthcare leaders. As one of the first healthcare organizations in the U.S. to vaccinate homebound individuals, CCA has been part of the national strategic discussion around efforts to reach this population. CCA joined the America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) last month in briefing the White House, highlighting CCA’s best practices and experience, and advocating for the prioritization of homebound individuals.

Those best practices will now be applied across Massachusetts, as the state’s COVID Command Center has asked CCA to handle all the central operations of this vaccination effort, provide a technological infrastructure, conduct patient outreach and scheduling, and oversee distribution logistics.

Eligible homebound residents will be identified and screened by the state with support from local partners like Boards of Health. Individuals or family members can also call (833) 983-0485 to answer screening questions and register as a homebound resident for vaccination. The state will then refer eligible residents to CCA.

The State will distribute vaccines weekly to geographic vaccination hubs that CCA will run. Contracted or volunteer vaccinators (EMS, home health agencies, students or local boards of health) will come to these hubs at scheduled times. They will be provided with “go bags” that include appropriate PPE, a list of appointments, and the necessary number of vaccines. The vaccinators will then provide eligible individuals with a vaccine in their home and return to the hub.

About CCA
Commonwealth Care Alliance® (CCA) is an integrated care system influencing innovative models of complex care nationwide. A not-for-profit, community-based payer and provider serving individuals with significant health needs, CCA’s uncommon care® model is proven effective in addressing unmet social determinants of health, behavioral health and medical needs. Mission-based and person-centered, CCA is singularly focused on sustainable and evidence-based healthcare breakthroughs that fill important gaps in care and improve the health and well-being of people with complex needs. This includes advocating for affordable, high-quality and cost-effective healthcare policies that lead to healthcare equity for individuals who need it most. For five consecutive years, CCA One Care earned a top rating from a consumer survey conducted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and CMS rated CCA Senior Care Options 4.5 out of 5 stars for 2021. Learn more about CCA’s pioneering healthcare solutions and validated care model at http://www.commonwealthcarealliance.org or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.