Kaiser Permanente and Town Hall Ventures launch Habitat Health

Habitat Health will help older adults with low incomes continue to live independently by providing comprehensive medical care and insurance through PACE, if approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).

OAKLAND, Calif. and NEW YORK, March 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaiser Permanente and Town Hall Ventures today announced the launch of Habitat Health, an organization designed to help older adults overcome the challenges of aging at home. If approved by CMS and DHCS, Habitat Health plans to operate as a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, Habitat Health will support its participants to live independently in their homes and communities with comprehensive care leading to better health outcomes. The company will serve older adults in partnership with local care partners, beginning first in California with Kaiser Permanente, and then nationally.

Habitat Health plans to begin serving older adults in Sacramento and Los Angeles in 2025. Through Habitat Health, participants with low incomes will be able to remain in their homes and receive comprehensive and personalized support.

"Our dedication to helping improve the health of our communities and members includes ensuring that people covered by Medicaid and Medicare can count on receiving the care and coordination that Kaiser Permanente delivers to our members," said Bechara Choucair, MD, chief health officer, Kaiser Permanente. "By combining our expertise in integrated care with Town Hall Ventures' experience launching businesses that support underserved communities, Habitat Health will help ensure that people who need the most care have access to high-quality, equitable medical care and services as they continue to age well in the communities that have cared for and supported them."

Eligible participants who join Habitat Health will be older adults with high-needs, most of whom dually qualify for Medicare and Medicaid. The company's partnership with Kaiser Permanente will serve as a model for future partnerships with other providers in their local markets across the country. Habitat Health's goal is to become a leading national provider rooted in local partnerships, ensuring delivery of high-quality care to PACE participants.

"This new partnership intends to improve the care and quality of life for the growing number of Americans who need it most," said Maria Ansari, MD, FACC, CEO and executive director, The Permanente Medical Group. "Kaiser Permanente members who choose to join Habitat Health will receive continuity of care through PACE centers and in their home, beginning in Sacramento," she added.

Habitat Health will benefit from Kaiser Permanente's expertise in creating efficient systems and developing innovative technology to integrate complex care, and from Town Hall Ventures' experience building successful care delivery companies that support underserved communities. If approved by CMS and DHCS, Habitat Health will serve as payer for all participants' Medicare and Medicaid services, as defined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. PACE, a program with roots in the 1970s, has developed a track record for delivering superior outcomes to participants in quality, longevity, cost, and patient experience as compared to nursing homes.

"We have an extraordinary challenge in this country. The number of people age 85 and older in our country will double by 2040. We need a better answer for the millions of older adults that is more humane, compassionate, scalable, and affordable for the nation," said Andy Slavitt, general partner, Town Hall Ventures. "We share Kaiser Permanente's commitment to finding innovative ways to improve community health, especially for underserved populations who need it most."

About Town Hall Ventures

Founded in 2018, Town Hall Ventures has invested in or participated in the build of 35 companies that improve how care is provided to underserved and under-represented communities. Select portfolio companies include Cityblock Health, Curana Health, Equality Health, Landmark Health, Signify Health, Suvida Health, Strive Health, Thyme Care, Unite Us, and VillageMD. Learn more at www.townhallventures.com.

About Habitat Health

Habitat Health was founded in 2023 to deliver fully integrated health and social care to older adults on Medicare or Medicaid who wish to remain living independently in their homes and communities. If approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), the company will operate its model through the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly ("PACE") in collaboration with local community partners. The company is supported by Kaiser Permanente, Town Hall Ventures, and New Enterprise Associates. For more information, go to www.habitathealth.com.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve more than 12.5 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go to about.kp.org.

*This news release has been modified to clarify that the provision of any PACE services is contingent upon approval by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).

For more information, contact:
Steve Shivinsky: [email protected]

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente