Evaluation of an Asthma Home Visiting Program in the State of Illinois, 2020–2023

CONTEXT: Asthma Home Visiting (HV) programs offer community-based education and environmental interventions to improve asthma control and reduce health care use. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the health, quality of life (QoL), and cost outcomes of a multi-site asthma HV program implemented across Illinois from 2020 to 2023. DESIGN: Cross-sectional program evaluation using pre- and post- intervention comparisons of health outcomes and health care utilization data. SETTING: Four Illinois-based HV programs supported by the Illinois Department of Public Health and funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 209 participants (58.4% children) with physician-diagnosed asthma who received HV services between 2020 and 2023. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, QoL indicators (Asthma Control Rating, ACT scores, and missed school/workdays), and program cost-benefit ratio. RESULTS: ED visits declined from 17.8% to 6% (P < .05), and hospitalizations from 7.6% to 0% (P < .05). QoL indicators improved significantly, with ACT well-controlled scores increasing from 24.8% to 45.4%. Estimated annual savings totaled $1.4 million, exceeding program costs of $1.04 million (benefit-cost ratio = 1.34). CONCLUSIONS: The Illinois asthma HV program improved health outcomes and reduced health care utilization, supporting its inclusion in comprehensive asthma care strategies.