***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
August 1, 2022
Contact: John Tomlin 914-703-1655 (cell)
Skyward Health Announces Launch, Becomes New York’s Newest and Largest Lead Health Home Agency
August 1, 2022 (New York, New York) – Skyward Health, a new venture that provides comprehensive services to care management organizations, announces its launch in New York State today.
As a lead health home agency, Skyward Health will simplify care coordination for Medicaid patients with chronic illnesses, mental health challenges or other complex medical needs.
Skyward Health is the result of a merger between two of New York’s most well-known lead health home agencies – the health home divisions of Sun River Health and Community Healthcare Network. The new organization will support care coordination for more than 30,000 Medicaid recipients, across 60 care management organizations in 15 counties throughout the state, making it the largest lead health home with the widest geographic footprint in New York.
As part of the launch, Skyward Health sent letters on behalf of their contracted care management agencies to notify members of the merger. The letters made clear there will be no interruption of care or services.
“Skyward Health will be the champion that Medicaid members with chronic conditions deserve, one that simplifies an overly complex health system and advocates for every patient’s medical, emotional and social needs. We launch today with a leadership team with extensive experience in lead health home and care management and will never take for granted the vital role we play in the lives of those we serve,” said Andrea Hopkins, Executive Director at Skyward Health.
“Sun River Health and Community Healthcare Network have built stellar reputations in the lead health home space. Merging them brings together two organizations committed to quality across all aspects of care. That is the essence of the “whole person” approach. Skyward Health brings those values along with the decades of unrivaled expertise in care management, making us a major asset for care managers, managed care organizations and tens of thousands of Medicaid recipients,” said Anne Kaufman Nolon, CEO of Sun River Health and Founding Board Member of Skyward Health.
“Access to quality care is critical for those who live with complex health challenges. At Skyward Health, we will simplify the care management process to ensure agencies have the tools they need to address the whole person. This leads to better health outcomes for patients, ultimately at a lower cost to health systems,” said Robert M. Hayes, President and CEO of Community Health Network and a founding Board Member of Skyward Health.
The health home model grew out of the Affordable Care Act to decrease costly preventable health care costs and hospitalizations for Medicaid members with complex medical and mental health needs. Rather than forcing patients to navigate the health system on their own, care management agencies employ professionals who coordinate every aspect of care for health home members. This includes coordinating medical care, mental health, housing, social services and other vital needs. Lead health home agencies like Skyward Health provide services and support to care management agencies such as billing, staff training, quality management and improvement and compliance oversight. Skyward also will work closely with managed care plans to address social needs, improve engagement in care and optimize clinical outcomes for members.