Humana Healthy Horizons in Kentucky Announces $207,000 Investment to Reduce “Digital Divide” and Improve Access to Health Care in Lyon County, KY

Rhea-AI Summary

Humana Healthy Horizons in Kentucky announced a $207,000 investment to enhance internet infrastructure in Lyon County, aiding approximately 180 residents. This initiative responds to the county's low broadband availability, ranked 40th in the nation. The investment will fund fiber optic connections, create access points, establish a telehealth hub, and provide educational resources. Humana's regional president emphasized the importance of improving access to telehealth services, aiming for better health outcomes and technological equity in the area.

Positive

• Investment of $207,000 to improve internet services in Lyon County.
• Establishment of a telehealth hub to enhance access to healthcare services.
• Provision of free broadband for a year to 180 residents.

Negative

• None.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Humana Healthy Horizons in Kentucky, Humana’s (NYSE: HUM) Kentucky Medicaid Plan, is pleased to announce a $207,000 investment that will upgrade infrastructure in Lyon County, KY in order to increase the availability of internet services and improve digital access to health care.

In a state that ranks 40th in the nation in broadband availability, the 8,271 residents of Lyon County in Western Kentucky have some of the greatest challenges in spanning the “digital divide” and accessing the benefits of telehealth resources. Internet service providers have long faced geographic and financial challenges to expand broadband infrastructure to this rural area. Additionally, due to the topography of Lyon County, line of sight wireless solutions and common cellular service oftentimes are not a viable solution.

Through a collaboration with Lyon County Judge Executive Wade White and internet service provider Fastnet, Humana Healthy Horizons in Kentucky will help provide needed capabilities in Lyon County, including:

• Internet infrastructure to connect approximately 180 residents in two target areas with fiber optic cable and free broadband for 1 year.
• Three internet community access points strategically placed throughout the county.
• A telehealth hub for community residents to conduct private telehealth visits with local, regional and statewide hospital systems. The hub will help close care gaps by connecting patients to primary, urgent and preventive care, as well as internal medicine, cardiology and behavioral health services.
• Educational resources to help strengthen residents’ knowledge of internet benefits, safety and affordability.

Humana Healthy Horizons’ $207,000 investment will be used to fund the installation of an underground fiber network in the target areas, purchase wireless routers and provide one-year of free internet service for participating residential homes, create three hotspot access points in the community, construct a telehealth hub, and develop educational materials.

“Humana Healthy Horizons is extremely excited for the opportunity to invest in the internet infrastructure of Lyon County in our home state of Kentucky,” said Jeb Duke, Humana’s Kentucky Medicaid Regional President. “Our investment will improve the community’s access to a statewide system of telehealth services, create better health outcomes for residents, and improve technological and educational equity in an area where those disparities are of great concern.”

About Humana Healthy Horizons

In 2020, Humana launched its new Medicaid brand, Humana Healthy Horizons™. With this new brand, we are committed to continue demonstrating our strong ability to manage complex populations and create solutions that lead to a better quality of life for our members. Nationally, we serve Medicaid enrollees through Medicaid Managed Care (MMC), Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) programs, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Financial Alignment Initiative Dual Demonstrations, MA, D‐SNPs, and PDPs.

Humana has served Medicaid populations continuously for more than two decades and currently manages Medicaid benefits for nearly 800,000 members nationally. We have developed expertise providing care management, care planning, and specialized clinical management for the complex needs of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP); Medicaid Expansion; aged, blind, or disabled (ABD); and dual eligible populations within a social supports-based framework. Through these years of experience, we have also developed significant expertise in integrating physical health, behavioral health, pharmacy, and social services and supports for a whole-person centered approach to improve the health and well-being of our members and the communities we serve.

Humana Healthy Horizons is a Medicaid Product offered by affiliates of Humana Inc.

About Humana

Humana Inc. is committed to helping our millions of medical and specialty members achieve their best health. Our successful history in care delivery and health plan administration is helping us create a new kind of integrated care with the power to improve health and well-being and lower costs. Our efforts are leading to a better quality of life for people with Medicare, families, individuals, military service personnel, and communities at large.

To accomplish that, we support physicians and other health care professionals as they work to deliver the right care in the right place for their patients, our members. Our range of clinical capabilities, resources and tools – such as in-home care, behavioral health, pharmacy services, data analytics and wellness solutions – combine to produce a simplified experience that makes health care easier to navigate and more effective.

More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at www.humana.com, including copies of:

• Annual reports to stockholders
• Securities and Exchange Commission filings
• Most recent investor conference presentations
• Quarterly earnings news releases and conference calls
• Calendar of events
• Corporate Governance information

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211019005396/en/

Mark Taylor

Humana Corporate Communications

(317) 753-0345

e-mail: mtaylor108@humana.com

Source: Humana Inc.

FAQ

What is Humana's recent investment in Lyon County, KY?

Humana announced a $207,000 investment to improve internet infrastructure in Lyon County.

How will the investment impact residents in Lyon County?

The investment aims to connect 180 residents with fiber optic internet and improve access to telehealth services.

What services will the telehealth hub provide in Lyon County?

The telehealth hub will facilitate private telehealth visits with various healthcare systems.

When was the investment by Humana announced?

The investment was announced on October 19, 2021.

What challenges does Lyon County face regarding internet services?

Lyon County ranks 40th in the nation for broadband availability, facing geographic and financial obstacles.