50+ Lifestyles

New Iowa Health Link Program Launched – See How It Benefits You

By Kathy Horrell
Director of Senior Service
Center for Acrive Seniors, Inc.

The Center for Active Seniors (CASI) operates the only comprehensive Senior Center and is a Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) provider through the new Iowa HealthLink Program.

On April 1, the State of Iowa will launch its Medicaid modernization plan, called IA HealthLink. This plan is
transitioning more than 500,000 Medicaid subscribers to managed care in an effort to improve quality of and access to needed services/supports, promote accountability for outcomes and create a more predictable and sustainable Medicaid budget for the State.
As Scott County’s only licensed adult day services provider, these services are now being covered by:

•  Amerigroup Iowa, Inc.
•  AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa
•  UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley, Inc.

For individuals participating at Jane’s Place Adult Day Services at CASI, this is great news!

Individuals who were receiving HCBS through Iowa Medicaid will still continue to receive their quality-of-life enhancing services. These managed care organizations join the Veteran’s Administration and several long-term care insurance companies as third-party payer sources for adult day services at Jane’s Place.

Jane’s Place Adult Day Services is a low-cost alternative to long-term care for individuals needing adult supervision.  According to the 2015 Long Term Care Costs & Cost of Care in Iowa Report conducted by Genworth, the average annual cost of Adult Day Services is $15,600. This is compared to the Annual Costs of Assisted Living, $42,000 and $63,875 for a semi-private room in a long-term care facility (nursing home). On average, individuals who participate in adult day services are able to stay at-home 18 to 24 months longer than those who are not enrolled in the program.

Jane’s Place serves older adults with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or dementia and those who require day-time adult supervision.  Jane’s Place offers a structured, home-like setting that encourages fun interaction in a friendly group setting for social, cognitive and therapeutic activities. The program remains one of the only Adult Day programs in Iowa to be staffed full time by a Registered Nurse.

For more information on the changes and how they affect you or a loved one at Jane’s Place, contact Kathy Horrell at (563) 386-7477 ext. 243.