Homeward Health

Homeward Health delivers telehealth solutions using a hybrid care delivery model which leverages both virtual and at-home consultations to deliver telehealth solutions. While the company’s initial focus was on heart health, its aim is to bring primary and specialty care solutions to rural parts of the US through its telehealth and remote monitoring services and its mobile units for in-person care. Homeward plans use mobile devices to offer its telehealth services, along with monitoring devices, which would transmit patient data over cellular networks instead of broadband networks, due to the limited availability of broadband connections in these rural areas. Homeward also provides additional services such as longitudinal check-ins and monitoring, home delivered lab reports and prescriptions, and partnerships for referrals to local doctors and hospitals if required.

As of August 2024, the California-based company operated five physical clinics across its service areas of Michigan and Minnesota. 

The company operates using a B2B2C model, where users can use their insurance plans to use Homeward’s services.

Key customers and partnerships

In February 2023, Homeward partnered with health plan provider Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (BCBS Minnesota) to provide care to rural patients in Minnesota counties. Under the value-based care arrangement, members of BCBS Minnesota in 24 counties outside of Minneapolis and St. Paul could access Homeward’s hybrid health services. 

In August 2022, the company partnered with Priority Health to bring its healthcare services to 30,000 Medicare Advantage patients in rural Michigan over the next three years. The partnership also enabled Homeward Health to integrate with health systems in Michigan, given Priority Health’s local affiliations. The partnership announcement is the second partnership Homeward has entered into after announcing its partnership with RiteAid in May to bring remote and virtual care services to seniors living in rural areas across the US.

In June 2022, the company partnered with drugstore and pharmacy chain Rite Aid to bring remote and virtual care services to seniors living in rural areas across the US. The partnership enabled Rite Aid pharmacists to direct patients covered through Medicare to Homeward’s services such as annual wellness visits, screenings, and risk assessments. Homeward’s fleet of mobile care units were made available at certain Rite Aid locations in Michigan with plans to expand into additional geographical locations.