Belle Expands In-Home and Virtual Care for 50M+ Polychronic Medicare Members
Leveraging insights from over a quarter of a million in-home visits with medically complex individuals, Belle has expanded its successful model for providing home-based, proactive chronic care management.
Belle has made significant strides in enhancing its chronic care management capabilities by strengthening both its clinical processes and technology infrastructure. The company has expanded its virtual clinical team to include not only case managers but also physicians, nurses, and nail technicians who are certified as community health workers (CHWs). This expansion allows Belle to offer more comprehensive care for individuals with complex health conditions, particularly those managing multiple chronic diseases.
In addition to expanding its clinical team, Belle has appointed Dr. Christian Wilson as its new medical director. Dr. Wilson brings a wealth of experience to the role, having served as a resident physician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, a management consultant at Boston Consulting Group, and an assistant professor at Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center. His diverse background also includes working as a traveling hospitalist. In his new role, Dr. Wilson will oversee the delivery of clinical support via telehealth, ensuring that Belle’s remote services are effectively integrated with in-home care.
These investments in both human resources and technology enable Belle to offer a more comprehensive range of chronic care management services.
These include annual wellness visits, regular check-ins with clinicians, the creation and maintenance of care plans, and referrals to other healthcare services. Additionally, these improvements give Belle the flexibility to function as a healthcare provider, allowing the company to expand its service offerings to Medicare Advantage plans and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). The upgrades also make it possible for Belle to care for Original Medicare members, a population that had not previously been eligible for the company’s services. This expansion opens the door for Belle to provide care to the approximately 50 million Medicare beneficiaries who are managing multiple chronic conditions.
The upgrades build on Belle’s proven business model, which has already created significant value for Medicare Advantage clients. Through detailed actuarial analysis, Belle has demonstrated a $1,320 per member per year reduction in total healthcare costs. In addition, the company has achieved a 25% reduction in member churn, highlighting the success of its engagement strategies. Belle’s model also includes improvements in the completion of annual wellness visits, enhanced accuracy in risk adjustment coding, and better engagement with health plan resources and programs. While the initial focus has been on Medicare Advantage populations, the company’s expanded model presents significant opportunities to serve other client types, including ACOs.
“The feet have proven to be the greatest door opener of all time,” said Armand Lauzon, founder and CEO of Belle. “Between 40-60% of targeted members will allow our team into their homes, and then we are able to sustain engagement over time because of the joy our experience creates.” This “foot-forward” approach refers to the company’s use of foot care (medical pedicures) as an entry point for engaging members. Foot care is especially valuable for individuals with complex medical conditions, such as diabetes or vascular diseases, where foot problems can lead to severe complications. This unique approach not only creates engagement but also provides predictive insights into future health risks.
Dr. Christian Wilson emphasized that the feet serve as a valuable early warning system for health issues. “The feet are the farthest body part from the heart, so they serve as an early warning system,” he explained. “They can tell you what is going on in the rest of the body and can help predict and prevent future health issues.” Belle uses this insight to address a wide range of medical needs, including cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and cognitive concerns. The company’s certified community health workers conduct “whole health” assessments during home visits and facilitate telehealth consultations with Belle’s virtual clinical team.
Belle also employs cutting-edge technology to support its chronic care management model. The company uses a mobile app that enables community health workers to assess patients’ needs and provide tailored care. Additionally, Belle has developed an AI-driven predictive model that analyzes a database of over 2.5 million foot photos. This model helps forecast potential complications, allowing the care team to intervene early and prevent serious health issues.
“We believe we are making a giant leap forward in the management of chronic conditions,” said Dr. Eli Goldberg, VP of Data and Innovation at Belle. “We have cracked the code on engagement while also developing a model that is highly effective in driving clinical and financial outcomes. We are excited for the next chapter in our evolution and the impact we can have in partnership with our clients.”
Belle’s home-based care model has proven to be effective not only in improving health outcomes but also in generating strong financial results. On average, the company delivers a return on investment (ROI) ranging from 2x to 4x, demonstrating the significant impact of its services on both cost reduction and quality improvement.
Belle continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in chronic care management, using its innovative model to engage hard-to-reach populations and create lasting value for both healthcare providers and patients. By combining in-home foot care with virtual health services and cutting-edge technology, Belle is paving the way for a more efficient, effective, and compassionate approach to managing chronic conditions.
