Long-term chronic care you'll feel at home with…HomeFirst^SM

Coping with a chronic illness can make you feel unsettled. You never know how you're going to feel on any given day.

But you can count on getting the support you need to stay at home, near family and friends—from HomeFirst. We'll be there for you with comfort, guidance and practical help. We'll do everything possible to get you the health services you need to stay independent and out of a nursing home.

To speak to a HomeFirst Enrollment Representative at no obligation, call (718) 759-3620.

What is HomeFirst and how can it help?

HomeFirst is a managed long-term care plan designed exclusively for Medicaid-eligible New York-area residents who have chronic or disabling conditions. HomeFirst covers or coordinates services you need to stay independent and in the comfort of your home. Even more important, we navigate the confusing health system for you and provide intensive management of all your care, giving you less to worry about.

As soon as you enroll, you'll be assigned your own Nurse Health Partner—a registered nurse who is an expert at coordinating the home care needs of people with chronic conditions. He or she will assess your situation, then assist you with obtaining crucial health services. Your Nurse Health Partner can also help you access practical help you may not have known you were eligible for, like food stamps, phone and utilities subsidies, housing aid, and assistance with Medicaid recertification.

Tasks that a family member might find overwhelming are taken care of easily by your Nurse Health Partner, who also provides emotional support. This frees up you and your family to focus on what's most important—spending precious time together at home.

It's your health care—your input comes first.

With HomeFirst, you are an important member of the health care team. You collaborate with your Nurse Health Partner, your family and your regular personal physician to get the services you need most.

Your communication needs are important, too. We can usually pair you with a Nurse Health Partner who speaks your language, whether it's Russian, Chinese, Spanish, English—or a variety of other languages. Plus, most of our staff is bilingual. And, if necessary, we can arrange translation services or other communication options free-of-charge.

HomeFirst benefits include:

• Adult day health care
• Audiology/hearing aids
• Home health care, including:
• Nursing care
• Home health aides
• Physical therapy (PT)
• Occupational therapy (OT)
• Speech therapy (ST)
• Medical social service
• Housekeeping
• Nursing home care (restrictions apply)
• Nutritional counseling
• Optometry/eyeglasses
• Personal care
• Personal Emergency Response System (PERS)
• Podiatry
• Rehabilitation therapies (physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy) provided outside the home

How are services paid for?

HomeFirst is paid by New York State Medicaid to provide managed long-term care services. Services not part of the HomeFirst benefits continue to be covered by your Medicaid and/or Medicare benefits. All your services will be coordinated, even those not included in your benefit package.

Call us toll-free at (718) 759-3620 and an Enrollment Representative will explain the program, arrange a free home assessment visit or send a Member Handbook. You could be receiving services within a month! Call today!

HomeFirst is a participating agency of Metropolitan Jewish Health System (Metropolitan). With Metropolitan, you have a century of health care experience working for you and your family. The other agencies and programs of Metropolitan include:

• Metropolitan Jewish Home Care
• Metropolitan Jewish Hospice
• Metropolitan Jewish Palliative Care
• Metropolitan Jewish Adult Day Health Center
• Skilled Nursing Facilities
• Elderplan®

Take the first step to staying independent.

You may be eligible for HomeFirst if you:

• Are age 18 or older,
• Live in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Manhattan or Staten Island,
• Are eligible for Medicaid,
• Are eligible for nursing home care (according to New York State assessment criteria),
• Are able to stay at home without jeopardy to health and safety, and
• Need long-term care services for 120 days or more

Just give us a call and an Enrollment Representative will make an appointment to assess your needs and determine if HomeFirst is an option for you. The sooner you call, the sooner you can receive help. So don't wait. Call (718) 759-3620 immediately at no obligation!

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