Evercare was developed in order to address problems in the way care is delivered to older adults with complex needs and chronic conditions.  Specific drivers of the model include:

• High cost of avoidable hospital care
• Limited health services provided in nursing home and long-term care settings leading to transfers in and out of facilities to hospitals and EDs
• Fragmented care
• Lack of focus on prevention and poor quality outcomes

Evercare was founded in 1987 by two NPs who specialized in geriatric care and had a vision for how high quality care could be delivered to frail older adults.  Based on the notion that Medicare beneficiaries could benefit from more care delivered in a highly responsive way, they developed the Evercare Care Model.  This model placed NPs in the nursing home setting where they work with the nursing home to monitor for changes in health.  NPs focus on early diagnosis and intervention, orchestrate better communication and help ensure the delivery of the appropriate array of services.

In 1995, Evercare’s nursing home program was awarded federal Medicare demonstration project status.  Since then, Evercare has extended its Care Model to serve people who live at home or elsewhere in the community and have chronic illnesses, special conditions such as kidney disease, or disabilities.  The Evercare Care Model is also woven into a special program for caregivers caring for a loved one.

In 2004, CMS gave Evercare demonstration projects permanent status by converting them to Special Needs Plans. Today, Evercare offers Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans and/or Medicaid plans in 38 states, serving 30,000 individuals in nursing homes and long-term care and an additional 160,000 individuals in the community (either through Medicare Special Needs Plan or through state Medicaid plans).

Additionally, Evercare™ Solutions for Caregivers, which are offered to over 500 employers nationwide to more than 700,000 employed caregivers, supports caregivers through individual health plans as well as through employer work-life programs.  Finally, Evercare offers Evercare™ Hospice & Palliative Care for individuals in advanced stages of illness.

As a health plan, Evercare receives reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid, depending on the program.  Evercare holds contracts with CMS for its Medicare Special Needs Plans and contracts with certain states to provide Medicaid services.  Finally, Solutions for Caregivers is available through employers or on a private-pay basis.