Rachel Davis-O'Brien

A while back I re-shared an article about the FFS and PMPM rates that would be needed to cover the costs of operating a community health worker (CHW) program by the Waymark research team. This article by the California Health Care Foundation describes how California's CHW program was developed and what they went through, including barriers (like merits of certification, CHW reimbursement rates). It also paints more context on the growing role (and need) of the CHW— a trained specialist with lived experience who helps patients in underserved communities navigate the health system and connect to social supports. The article highlights the key component best: "For generations, CHW/P/Rs have filled critical gaps in California’s health landscape and acted as liaisons between marginalized communities and mainstream systems. As trusted community representatives, they share cultural and linguistic backgrounds with their clients, many of whom are immigrants, people of color, and people with low incomes. And they provide accessible information and support in ways that resonate with their surrounding community." It would be pretty hard to replicate this connection and bridge with centralized care coordinators, discharge planners, customer service reps, etc., let alone AI, imho. As more closed loop referral systems are being implemented across city, county, state HIEs, and, systems, health plans, Medicaid agencies, etc., the increased effort on supporting whole-person care gives rise to more opportunity—and hopefully more funding pathways—for this kind of relevant, community-based work. Really great read by Robin Buller.

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Hello, cohort 10 of The Lay Counselor Academy!! We had a fabulous kick-off in Oakland last month with this amazing group! Many are from Oakland organizations, including our long-term collaborator (and the Stop The Hate leader in the Bay Area), Asian Health Services. We also had folks from Northern and Southern CA, New Mexico, Texas, and Minnesota! If the people you serve struggle to get needed behavioral health counseling services, there is a solution. Instead of referring to a months-long waitlist, consider having your already-awesome CHWs, SUD counselors, case managers, health navigators, and teachers' aides enhance their skills and confidence in mental health counseling through our rigorous, engaging, equity, and empathy-centered LCA course. If practicing mental health counseling looks like fun….it is because it is! Join us! The next LCA is scheduled for August 2024. For more information on this course, check out the link below in the comments ⬇️ #mentalhealth #counseling #counselingworks #empathy

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I have been in the home health space for many years. I have seen new agencies succeed and new agencies fail. Many work with consultants to help get Medicare/Medicaid certified/accredited. During this Medicare certification/accreditation process, agencies are required to accept 10 pro bono patients. This means all expenses for these patients are out of pocket for the agencies. Any operating capital is quickly depleted based on complexity of cases, payroll, supplies, and other overhead costs. In working with these new agencies, I am seeing a gap in knowledge transfer from the consultants to the agencies. Many do not know that there is a way to generate revenue while waiting on Medicare certification/accreditation. To keep the agency afloat during this time of pro bono status, you can seek participating provider applications from: ➡ Department of Veteran's Affairs - a sorely underserviced population in home health and home care. ➡ Commercial Insurance plans - Medicare certification is not required to accept commercial insurance plans. (only for Medicare Advantage HMOs - formerly known as Medicare replacements) ➡ Long term care insurance - these plans can cover personal care services, homemaking and in some cases, skilled nursing. ➡ Private Pay - Private pay and private duty is a growing segment in home health and home care. Don't exclude providing private pay services to clientele. Consultants, please help your agencies discover the possibilities of generating revenue while accepting pro bono patients and waiting on Medicare's 18 month to 2 year process for full certification and billing approval. #managebetter #homehealth #agencygrowth #revenuegeneration

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Fascinating tool and one of the reasons I joined VMG.

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Great conversation with Stacie Weeksof Nevada Medicaid. Topics include: strengthening the workforce, innovations through stronger communications, and innovations for BH and jail health programs. Run time: 12 mins https://lnkd.in/gyb3tQq2

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Elevating youth mental health in California with Soluna Meet Soluna: The comprehensive mental health app for Californians aged 13 to 25, offering free, confidential support — anytime, anywhere. Always there for youth: Young people's mental health needs don't clock out, so neither does Soluna. No matter life’s challenges, Soluna is always here to ensure no one faces them alone. How Soluna supports youth: Soluna is a personal space filled with a variety of free, reliable support options that meet youth needs: - 1:1 Coaching: Chat with trained professionals ready to guide and understand. - Self-help resources: Explore interactive tools designed for personal growth. - Active forums: Join a community that understands and supports each other. - And so much more: Soluna is constantly evolving, just like our youth. Mental wellbeing starts here: Soluna is more than just an app — it's a promise. A promise of no cost, no pressure, and always anonymous support. Why? Because every young Californian should feel empowered, no matter where they are on their mental health journey. Let Soluna join you on the path toward mental wellbeing. Download the app and sign up today — it's completely free! #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmonth #soluna

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🌟 Prioritizing Primary Care: A Cornerstone for Community Well-Being Primary care is the bedrock of health and well-being in every community. It’s the compass guiding us toward better health outcomes, preventive care, and holistic support. 🌿 In Southwest Utah, Intermountain Healthcare is steadfastly committed to ensuring that primary care remains accessible and close to home. Our dedicated team of credentialed and compassionate primary care providers stands ready to serve new patients. 🏥 👉 Why Primary Care Matters: Holistic Approach: Primary care clinicians, including doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, take care of the whole person. They build lasting relationships with patients, families, and communities, ensuring comprehensive health support. Preventive Care: From health promotion to disease prevention, primary care covers it all. Regular check-ups, vaccinations, and early intervention are essential components. Community Connection: Our primary care providers are embedded in the fabric of local communities. They understand the unique needs and challenges faced by residents. 📜 Join Us on the Journey: Let’s champion primary care together! Whether you’re a patient seeking reliable healthcare or a professional advocating for community well-being, let’s celebrate the tireless efforts of our primary care heroes. 🙌 👥 Meet Our Primary Care Providers: Below, you’ll find a list of our dedicated primary care providers who are eager to welcome new patients. Reach out, schedule an appointment, and take a proactive step toward better health! 🌟 Remember, strong primary care isn’t just about medical expertise; it’s about building trust, fostering connections, and ensuring a healthier future for all. Let’s make primary care a priority! 💙

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Are you interested in joining the University of Utah Health PMO team? We're looking for local project management talent to help us reach new levels! Team vision statement: "As a collaborative team, we lead the hospital by delivering transformative IT projects with high-value outcomes that align with the PROMISE standards.  We strive to improve the patient and staff experience by implementing technological advancements at the speed of change." https://lnkd.in/g6xY6M_y The PROMISE standards demonstrate University of Utah Health's core values, which serve to guide appropriate behavior in our day-to-day work: P= People Centered R= Respect O= Ownership M= Makes a Difference I= Innovation S= Safety E= Excellence

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Why Is Understanding HHS-HCC Important? Broader Population Coverage: The HHS-HCC model, with its inclusion of various conditions and demographics, plays a pivotal role in ensuring comprehensive coverage for the general population, including non-Medicare beneficiaries. This underscores the importance of your role in healthcare management and decision-making. It accounts for various conditions and situations, such as maternity and pediatric care, less emphasized in the CMS-HCC model. ACA Compliance: Health plans in the individual and small group markets must adhere to ACA regulations, which utilize the HHS-HCC model for risk adjustment. By understanding the HHS-HCC model, healthcare systems and insurance providers can accurately predict costs and allocate resources effectively within these markets. Resource Allocation: Both models aim to allocate resources efficiently, but they do so based on different population needs. Incorporating both models allows healthcare systems to tailor their resource distribution strategies better. This dual approach ensures that all patient populations receive appropriate care and funding, whether in Medicare Advantage or ACA markets. Financial Stability: The HHS-HCC model plays a pivotal role in maintaining health plans' financial stability. By comprehending both HHS-HCC and CMS-HCC models, healthcare systems can more accurately anticipate costs and set premiums that align with their enrollees' risk profiles. This dual understanding mitigates the risk of underfunding or overcharging, promoting financial sustainability. Quality of Care: Proper risk adjustment leads to more equitable payment systems, ensuring high-risk patients receive necessary care without financially overburdening health plans. Healthcare systems implementing both models can significantly improve the quality of care by ensuring that resources are distributed based on patients' accurate risk profiles.

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🔍Is your behavioral health treatment strategy reactive or proactive? Starting May 7th, providers and patients can proactively measure treatment and gain insights into symptom severity with our new Behavioral Vital Signs™ report. As a provider, you'll get a comprehensive PDF report via secure message or right in your EHR. This includes trends for clinically validated surveys, actionable self-report data, and even intelligent passive sensing insights for the last 30 days. As a patient you will receive the same report in the Health Rhythms app, where you can share it with your wider care team and securely review them month over month. It's time to improve our mental health measurement capabilities to enhance treatment strategies and improve outcomes. #DigitalHealth #MentalHealthCare #HealthcareInnovation #PatientCare #healthrhythms #bvs #behavioralvitalsigns

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This isn’t a newly developed concept for me at all. It actually links back to something I started writing, planning, organizing, pitching and reshaping beginning 17 years ago when I was an Alcohol and Other Drug Community Organizer in the San Francisco Bay Area. I’ve narrowed the scope with the same mission that created my consulting business: private investment in the public good. Since 2007, my work, life and family path has changed. You might be surprised to know that as I sat in my tiny in-law apartment with my expensive graduate school writing skills, mapping out the vision for what started on paper as Community Resource Centers of America, I was just over a year out of the worst time in my adult life to date. My next post will touch on this, so now it’s your turn: How do you envision your dream and find the balance in life to make it a reality?

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Technology improves patient access and care.

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Wondering how to reduce healthcare disparities through data and collaboration? Watch our latest healing healthcare episode.

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Team building exercises for CDI managers can efficiently foster collaboration, communication, and camaraderie among remote and on-site teams. This series will provide different team building exercises for all organization settings: remote, hybrid, and onsite. Virtual Team Building Exercises Virtual Coffee Breaks: Schedule informal video calls where team members can chat about non-work-related topics. This helps build personal connections. Online Trivia: Host trivia games using platforms like Kahoot or Quizizz. Create questions about CDI, general knowledge, or fun facts about team members. Virtual Escape Rooms: This engaging activity requires the team to work together, fostering collaboration and problem-solving skills. It's a fun and interactive way to build team spirit. Two Truths and a Lie: This activity is an excellent way for each team member to share a bit about themselves, promoting fun and getting to know each other better. It's inclusive and ensures everyone has a chance to participate. Virtual Lunch and Learn: Organize sessions where team members can share their expertise or hobbies over a virtual lunch. This encourages knowledge sharing and personal connection. Book Club: Organize a virtual book club where team members read and discuss a book related to professional development or a shared interest. Wellness Challenges: Launch a wellness challenge where team members track their physical activity, meditation, or healthy eating habits. Use a shared platform to log progress and encourage each other.

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California's CalAIM initiative Enhanced Care Management has a specific population of focus for Birth Equity, supporting pregnant and post-partum Black, Pacific Islander, Native American and Alaska Native individuals on Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal has also started covering doula services. Both of these programs can support an individuals journey through pregnancy and in the post-partum period. Together we can lower maternal mortality rates. "Black women continue to die from pregnancy and childbirth complications at unacceptably high rates, and U.S. women overall are more likely to die from maternal complications than women in other high-income countries. While the number of maternal deaths is lower in 2022 than in earlier years — primarily because there were fewer COVID-related maternal deaths — the United States faces continuing challenges in reducing maternal mortality."

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Two key outcomes as the result of technology supporting information transitions 1) time saved from the workforce 2 ) reduction of medication errors! Everyone working in senior living check this out! #seniorliving #seniorcare

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I was recently interviewing a candidate for a Healthcare Consultant role. This confident young guy is acing all my questions. After some warm-up questions, I popped this one: "What's the deal with EHR integration, anyway?" He fires back, "It's all about smoothing out the provider workflow with some nifty automation." He went on to explain, but I'm thinking there's so much more to explore. As we chatted, I started jotting down other cool EHR integration ideas. (Check 'em out in the pic below.) Let's create a list of EHR integration possibilities. Got any gems to throw in? Catriona Tarto Sonia Priscilla García Carter Dunn Noemi R. Phillip McEwen #HealthcareConsultant #EHRIntegration #HealthTech #Interviews #Automation #HealthcareTechnology

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I'm concerned about the potential impact of proposed benefit reductions on Portland's city workers and first responders. Union health insurance is vital for ensuring the well-being and financial security of members, and any cuts could effectively erode their hard-earned benefits. Transparency and fair negotiation processes are essential in safeguarding member's interests, especially amidst tight budgets and rising costs. #UHCLaborandTrust #BelieveinBetter #LaborUnions #HealthInsurance #HealthBenefits

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