How HouseCalls connects with members where they live
HouseCalls means compassionate care
Nelda Thomas is a nurse practitioner and an advanced practice clinician (APC) with HouseCalls. She drives throughout Alabama in order to meet Medicare Advantage members in their homes. HouseCalls is a program at no additional cost to members that allows APCs like Nelda to connect with them and help them live healthier lives.
For Nelda, the work happens from “the top to the bottom” of the state. She often finds herself reaching members in areas that are far from primary care options, or even cell reception.
“I grew up in an area that was very very rural also,” Nelda said. “A lot of these members don’t drive or they don’t have a car, so the specialist they need to get to is about 50-60 miles away.”
When she meets with members where they live, she’s listening to what is going on with their health, and what their needs are. This can range from help managing chronic conditions like diabetes, to connecting members to referrals for access to food and transportation, and more.
“The hope and the goal is to close the gaps in care,” Nelda said.
In 2024 alone, 575K HouseCalls visits were completed in low-income communities.
For Nellie, one of the members that she visits, Nelda asks her questions about managing pain. After a conversation, Nelda documents Nellie’s concerns and outlines any outstanding questions, so that Nellie can discuss with her doctor at an upcoming visit.
“After Nelda’s visit, I have a lot to talk about with my doctor,” Nellie said.
HouseCalls adheres to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) best practices for in-home visits. HouseCalls can also be a key component of closing gaps in care, with licensed and trained APCs like Nelda connecting with members’ primary care providers to help bring greater care coordination across the health care continuum.
With HouseCalls, members like Nellie don’t just receive referrals to primary care or connections to needed services. They have someone to listen to their concerns, to sit down across the table from them, and to be present with them in whatever their health care journey might be.
“We’re looking out for our neighbor,” Nelda said. “When we go see our member, it’s just like our neighbor.”
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