Palliative care provider Tuesday Health has partnered with Buckeye Health Plan (part of Centene), to bring expanded palliative care options to people living with serious illness in Ohio.
Buckeye Health Plan serves more than 400,000 members in the Medicaid, Medicare and Marketplace products in Ohio. Tuesday Health provides palliative care services through in-person, hybrid and virtual models and has partnered with other health plans in the past.
“The model has a person- and family-centered approach, providing relief from both the symptoms and the stress that comes with a serious illness,” Natalie Lukaszewicz, vice president of network development and contracting at Buckeye Health Plan, told Palliative Care News. “By integrating palliative care early into the overall care plan, the care model aims to enhance the quality of life for both the member and their caregivers. This model supports members and caregivers through a comprehensive range of clinical and coordination services designed to enhance quality of life.”
The model is available to Buckeye Health Plan members facing serious illness across the state of Ohio. Eligible patients will be able to access Tuesday Health’s interdisciplinary care team, whidch includes nurses, social workers, nurse practitioners and physicians.
Tuesday Health will also handle care coordination with patients’ current providers to manage their symptoms, provide caregiver support and provide clarity and confidence in their medical decisions. Individuals will also have 24/7 access to clinicians for urgent needs, ensuring that care is available when it matters most, according to Lukaszewicz.
“Ohio currently faces a growing burden of serious illness and rising caregiver strain,” Lukaszewicz told Palliative Care News. “One-in-four adults in the state currently cares for a family member or friend with complex medical needs, and more than half of these caregivers are employed, according to a recent AARP report. Value-based palliative care, like the contract between Tuesday Health and Buckeye, helps ease this strain by proactively managing symptoms, clarifying care plans, and improving coordination among providers, reducing crises that lead to avoidable emergency visits and giving caregivers clearer guidance and support”
Lukaszewicz added that providing a palliative care program under Buckeye Health enables the plan to meet their members with compassion, while reinforcing the company’s Medicare and Medicaid offerings.
“Our goal is simple: to make sure people living with serious illness and their caregivers feel supported every day,” said Jim Wieland, CEO of Tuesday Health, in a statement. “This partnership with Buckeye Health Plan expands access to our care team, bringing hands-on guidance, emotional support and proactive, in-person clinical care. Members can count on us to help navigate the challenges of serious illness while avoiding unnecessary hospital visits.”
The partnership marks a milestone in Tuesday Health’s growth, now serving members through Medicare Advantage, Medicaid Managed Care programs and dual-eligible plans. With an expanded footprint, the organization can bring proven care models to more members who need supportive, integrated care, according to Wieland.
“When palliative care is introduced earlier and delivered consistently, it helps patients manage symptoms more effectively and gives caregivers meaningful support,” Wieland told Hospice News in an email. “For payers, that often translates into fewer avoidable hospitalizations, not because care is withheld, but because needs are being addressed proactively.”
