Get to Know Connie’s Newest Tool for Supporting Care Delivery at Home

By Heidi Wilson and Bethany Mifsud 

There's a nationwide focus on helping people stay healthy at home, including right here in Connecticut. For older adults and people with disabilities, that often means getting support completing daily tasks, managing medications, or coordinating care through home and community-based services (HCBS). 

More than 7 million people nationwide rely on HCBS each year, and Connecticut is no exception. With a growing investment in HCBS as a central tenant of long-term care, there’s a clear shift towards supporting older adults with disabilities. But with this change comes new demands on providers. 

That’s why Connie, Connecticut’s designated health information exchange, has introduced a new tool built specifically for HCBS providers serving Medicaid members. It’s designed to provide caregivers access to real-time health information about their clients, helping people live more independently and avoid long hospital stays or nursing home placements.  

The focus on HBCS also aligns with Connecticut’s movement to a value-based approach to care. That means providers aren’t just paid based on how many services they deliver, but on how well their clients are doing. Metrics for success look at whether people are reaching personal health goals, reduced hospital stays and readmissions, and the transition to home-based care. 

How Connie strengthens HCBS in Connecticut 

Connie's HCBS tool gives authorized organizations secure access to real-time health data so they can deliver more informed care to clients, coordinate with other providers, and track progress over time. 

With this tool, HCBS teams can: 

• Review a worklist of clients to spot who may need more attention

• See a snapshot of each client’s health details, care plan, goals, and support network

• Use a dashboard to track how their organization is doing on key outcome measures, like reducing hospitalizations and supporting community living

It’s a practical way to connect care with data while ensuring that patients are getting the support they need, when they need it, where they want it – right at home.

For patients, the tool provides a better chance of maintaining independence outside care facilities and empowerment to live life on their terms. For providers, it means a clearer view of each person’s situation and can even translate into financial incentives when clients do well.

For Connecticut, it supports a stronger, more connected care system that delivers improved results.

If you're interested in participating in the program, please email us at info@conniect.org, or visit Connie Services | HCBS to learn more.

For general questions about the HCBS program or Value-Based Payments, contact DSS at DSSARPVBP@ct.gov or visit the DSS HCBS ARPA website: Home and Community Based Services

Heidi Wilson is the HIE Services Director, responsible for managing the development of tools and processes that deliver appropriate healthcare information to providers and patients.

Bethany Mifsud, LCSW, is an Account Manager at Connie, helping organizations around Connecticut use new tools and programs.