UnitedHealthcare donates $2.85M to support workers
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UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Indiana has donated $2.85 million to four organizations looking to improve the direct service health workforce to improve health care for Indiana seniors.
The direct service health workforce includes certified nursing assistants, home health aides, direct support professionals, personal care aides and other nonlicensed workers. These are the professionals who give long-term care to people who age at home.
The four organizations receiving a piece of the sum are the Indiana Association for Home & Hospice Care, Ivy Tech Community College, Mobile Integrated Health-Community Paramedicine and Indiana University School of Medicine Geriatrics.
“We know that investing in building a strong and sustainable direct service workforce is essential to better serve the Hoosiers who want to age in their homes and communities,” Chris Callahan, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Indiana CEO, said in a news 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.”
The Indiana Association for Home & Hospice Care will receive $1.1 million for an assistance program that allows workers to have funding to afford child care, car repairs, gas money, financial well-being and other needs that may hinder their ability to work.
Ivy Tech will use its allotted $1 million for a Direct Service Worker Pathway program to train high school juniors and seniors to enter that workforce after graduation.
Montogomery County will have new community paramedics with Mobile Integrated Health-Community Paramedicine’s $250,000 slice.
The IU geriatrics department will use $500,000 for a Project ECHO initiative and Learning Collaborative for provider collaboration.
UnitedHealthcare said the funding aims to support the state’s workforce, which is understaffed when it comes to direct service workers, which was worsened by the pandemic.