Earlier this year, Blue Cross announced that Homeward, a new provider with an innovative approach to rural care delivery for outstate Minnesotans, would soon be joining its network to focus on care for Medicare Advantage members. With a blended in-home, mobile, and community-based approach, Homeward specializes in serving people in lower-population areas who may be more apt to delay medical treatment – or forego it altogether – due to geographic limitations or challenges.

In September, Homeward established its first presence in Minnesota with the opening of a brick-and-mortar location in Montevideo, a town of 5,300 located approximately 140 miles west of Minneapolis.

The Montevideo location will serve as a regional hub and in-person clinic staffed by a care team led by Dr. Emily Hayden, a board-certified osteopathic physician with more than 16 years of experience. Members of the community joined representatives from Homeward and Blue Cross for a ribbon cutting ceremony on Opening Day.

Members of the Montevideo Chamber of Commerce join Homeward employees Leah Reding (holding frame), Dr. Emily Hayden, Luis Martinez Flores and Nancy Salzl

Leah Reding cuts the ribbon marking the clinic’s official opening

More than a clinic

Homeward’s unique approach to care aims to improve inequities existing within the current healthcare landscape. According to the National Rural Health Association’s Policy Institute, 80 percent of rural counties lack a sufficient number of primary care providers and a 2022 report from the Minnesota Department of Health’s Office of Rural Health and Primary Care concluded that the lesser populated areas of the state face a “severe shortage” of all provider types.

For Blue Cross, a commitment to serving members with the right care, in the right place and at the right time means offering diverse care delivery options. Embracing new models and methods for providing services, and continuing to work closely with existing providers, has been proven to benefit members in a variety of ways, including:

• Flexibility with where and when care is received
• An emphasis on efficiency and lowering costs
• A focus on quality and outcomes

Homeward has plans to extend their reach across multiple counites in greater Minnesota. Existing providers in the areas Homeward will have a presence can expect a to see shared commitment in addressing health inequities through locally focused collaboration.

“Our ribbon cutting today is symbolic of new beginnings and we’re very excited for the partnerships that we have here, to ensure that people are able to get the care they need wherever, whenever, and however they need it,” noted Sapna Swaroop, PhD, senior vice president of operations and analytics at Homeward during the grand opening festivities. “Our clinic will provide primary care services from annual wellness checks, to checking in for cold and flu, to helping manage conditions like diabetes.”

The Minnesota counties Homeward is working to expand to for additional Medicare Advantage support are: Becker, Benton, Big Stone, Cass, Clay, Chippewa, Crow Wing, Douglas, Grant, Hubbard, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Morrison, Otter Tail, Pope, Redwood, Renville, Stearns, Swift, Todd, Wadena, and Wilkin.

To learn more about Homeward, visit homewardhealth.com or use the find a provider tool available at bluecrossmn.com or in the Blue Care Advisor app.