UnitedHealthcare is giving $2.85 million to four Indiana organizations supporting direct service health workers.
According to an Aug. 15 news release, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Indiana will provide $1.1 million to the Indiana Association of Home and Hospice Care to provide benefits, including funds for childcare and transportation, to direct service health workers.
The company will also give $1 million to Ivy Tech Community College in Lawrenceburg, Ind. to establish a program to prepare high school students to work in direct service after graduating.
Another $500,000 will go to Indiana University School of Medicine Geriatrics in Bloomington to fund a collaborative model for providers to share knowledge for providing at home-care to older adults, and $250,000 will go to Mobile Integrated Health-Community Paramedicine to employ paramedics focused on improving home-health for older adults.
Direct service workers, which can include certified nursing assistants, home health aides, direct support professionals and personal care aides, are essential for those who choose to age in their homes, Chris Callahan, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community Health Plan of Indiana said in the release.
“We are committed to making the health system work better for everyone by helping build a stable and well-trained workforce that delivers quality and compassionate person-centered care," Mr. Callahan said.