Molina Healthcare of Ohio (“Molina”) awarded a $125,000 grant to the Center for Community Based Care (CCBC), the nonprofit foundation arm of the Ohio Council for Home Care & Hospice (OCHCH). The investment will fund efforts to address the shortage of nurses in home care and hospice settings and support a new hotline aiding Ohioans managing serious illnesses from home.

A U.S. Department of Resources and Services Administration survey showed a decrease of 5,700 registered nurses working in home health and hospice settings from 2018 to 2022, despite there being over 214,000 more registered nurses employed during that time. A need of an additional 275,000 nurses is projected by 2030. Meanwhile, the home health care population increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic with a spike in telehealth appointments and usage of in-home medical services.

“Molina believes all individuals should have access to high-quality care and our support of CCBC will help create greater capacity for Ohioans to receive care from home,” said Ami Cole, plan president for Molina Healthcare of Ohio. “CCBC is reducing gaps in health equity and we are proud to invest in their work.”

“Ultimately, this gift means better care for patients, and meaningful, rewarding careers for care givers across Ohio,” said Lisa Von Lehmden, executive director of the OCHCH. “Molina’s support will allow us to truly make these community-focused initiatives a reality by supporting our efforts to put Ohio on the map when it comes to supporting home and community-based services and workforce development in a thoughtful, unique, and sustainable way.”

To address the increase in critical home health care needs, the Molina grant will support two key initiatives:

Home-Based Nursing Student Clinical Rotations: To address the shortage of nurses in home health and hospice settings, CCBC will partner with Ohio nursing schools to develop home-based clinical rotation experiences for nursing students. These rotations will provide hands-on learning opportunities exposing students to careers in hospice, home care and home-based primary care. Most nursing students rarely experience home-based care, either through a personal or family experience or in their clinical preparation during their nursing education.

Clinical Advocate Resource Exchange (CARE): This telephone-based program employs patient advocates to provide care navigation assistance for patients and care teams by connecting them to necessary services, resources, transportation, home care agencies, hospice providers, and more. This will enhance the healthcare continuum while relieving home care clinicians of non-billable tasks required to fully support patients.

About Molina Healthcare of Ohio

Molina Healthcare of Ohio has been providing government-funded, quality health care since 2005. The Company serves members through Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare-Medicaid (Duals) and Health Insurance Exchange programs throughout Ohio. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, provides managed health care services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs, and through state insurance marketplaces. For more information about Molina Healthcare of Ohio, visit MolinaHealthcare.com.

About the Center for Community Based Care

The Center for Community Based Care supports the delivery of community-based care through public awareness and consumer education. By connecting families and individuals across Ohio with resources they need, the Center helps families receive the exceptional care they deserve. The Center’s programs connect individuals of all ages to tools and resources to help them remain in their homes and with their families. The Center is the nonprofit foundation arm of the Ohio Council for Home Care & Hospice. OCHCH.org

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