Lorie Martin’s Post

Community member engagement has become an important element of Medicaid program and policy design in recent years, especially as a means of promoting health equity. New rules from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will further accelerate community engagement efforts across the nation. This new resource center, developed by the Center for Health Care Strategies, offers practical tools and guidance to help Medicaid stakeholders engage community members in policy and program design. It features best practices, as well as examples of successful community engagement strategies — from informal channels to structured approaches like community advisory committees. https://bit.ly/4c7DVrF Anna Spencer, MPH, Courtney Shahan Roman

Findhelp and Rural Health Association of Tennessee are proud to announce that we have won a contract with the State of Tennessee’s Medicaid Agency (TennCare) to help Tennesseans find the non-medical social care assistance they need, as part of the Health Starts Initiative. ▶ Findhelp’s technology allows TennCare (or any customer) to assess non-medical risk factors of individuals in need and refer them to community-based organizations that can meet their needs, while tracking outcomes. ▶ Our closed-loop referral system will help TennCare increase care coordination and streamline data collection to effectively measure impact. ▶ Our community-based organization network in Tennessee includes 9,348 local, county, state, and national programs, and throughout 2022 alone, more than 265,000 residents used findhelp to search for and connect to social care. Improving care delivery and promoting the overall health of individuals is critical to creating positive outcomes in communities. Removing barriers to getting social care can increase affordability and accessibility of quality, compassionate care – and that’s what we're going to accomplish together. ➡️ Read more: https://hubs.li/Q020NtDb0 #findhelp #SocialCare #TennCare #CLRS #SDoH

Michigan Community Health Network (MCHN) Regional Meeting 2024! The Michigan Community Health Network (MCHN) is a clinically integrated network formed by Michigan community health centers for the purpose of group contracting with Michigan Medicaid Health Plans. It was formed in 2015 and is owned by the Michigan Primary Care Association and 39 of its member health centers. MCHN negotiates value-based agreements on behalf of its members for the purpose of improving overall outcomes of the patients it serves and sharing in the resulting cost savings. #valuebasedcare #providerengagement #dataanalytics #caremanagement #Focus!

Although the dual-eligible space currently expands at twice the rate of the traditional Medicaid space, D-SNP enrollment trails that growth in eligibility. Why? In the past, the only plans that have embraced D-SNP at scale are the national behemoths. Belong Health was purpose-built to partner with local, community health plans to serve the complex needs of the D-SNP population. >> Download our Whitepaper to learn about the steps you can take now to successfully launch your 2025 D-SNP plan. https://lnkd.in/gX6npWBE

Community health centers are a linchpin of New York’s #health care safety net, providing comprehensive primary care, behavioral health, and dental and vision services to 2.3 million patients–of whom more than half are #Medicaid enrollees. These centers are essential partners in promoting health equity by serving underresourced communities and providing health care for populations who may otherwise lack access to health care. Since community health centers rely heavily on Medicaid revenue, the Medicaid policy is an important lever for strengthening the reach and impact of community health centers. This research report and fact sheet describe the critical role of community health centers in supporting the state’s health equity goals and examines the New York State Medicaid prospective payment system (PPS) as a foundation for ensuring access to equitable and comprehensive primary care. https://urbn.is/3RlU0lY

A growing number of states are using new flexibilities in the Medicaid program to address health-related unmet needs and adverse social conditions, including housing, according to a new brief by the NYU Furman Center's Housing Solutions Lab. State health officials are piloting these interventions for high-risk beneficiaries. As of March 2024, at least 18 states had approved Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waivers for housing-related services, with eight states recently approved under the housing-related social needs waiver framework. State programs cover a variety of strategies, including housing search navigation and one-time community transition costs, tenancy sustaining services, home accessibility modifications, short-term post-hospitalization housing, and medical respite care. Read more here

Calling all CHW employers and allies. If you are interested in learning more about reimbursement for CHW work, this is the webinar to be at. 👍

Save the date and join in. I am honored and excited to participate with a phenomenal panel. Medicaid redetermination, a crucial process for state Medicaid programs, periodically reassesses enrolled individuals' eligibility for benefits. This ensures that only those who qualify receive Medicaid services. However, it can lead to coverage disruptions if beneficiaries don't respond to renewal notices or face changes in eligibility. Health equity in Medicaid redetermination is about providing fair access to healthcare for all, regardless of socioeconomic status, race, or ethnicity. Addressing barriers like language, complex processes, and technology access is key. Supporting services through community organizations and social workers can assist individuals in maintaining coverage. By tackling these challenges, states can prevent vulnerable populations from losing Medicaid coverage due to administrative hurdles. This effort promotes health equity and ensures continuity of care for those in need. Register here: https://bit.ly/3V5feFo #MedicaidRedetermination #HealthEquity #HealthcareAccess #CommunitySupport #HealthcareEquality IHI ACGME UAB School of Health Professions Health Tech 4 Medicaid Kate McEvoy Melisa Byrd Rudowitz, Robin Pear Suite

No matter the location, community health should be a priority!   CMS has initiated a significant change, allowing public and private insurers to reimburse "street medicine" providers for services offered in non-traditional locations where homeless individuals might be found.   This groundbreaking move recognizes street locations as legitimate healthcare settings. The shift responds to the rising number of homeless individuals and the increasing demand for intensive addiction and mental health treatment.   Previously, such providers operated on a volunteer basis. The change is expected to impact low-income, disabled, and elderly individuals on Medicaid and Medicare. This move addresses the critical healthcare needs of those without stable homes and supports over 150 street medicine programs nationwide.   Healthcare is for everyone and every community!   Having effective patient experience procedures in place might entail improving current workflows, maximizing workforce potential with current staff shortages, and eventually partnering with other community-based healthcare groups.   We are here to assist your healthcare organization in executing these and many other care possibilities.   We are the One!   https://lnkd.in/gTgRcZC4   #revenuecycle #revenuecyclemanagement #priorauthorization #medicalbilling #medicalcoding #healthcare #healthcaretechnology #accountsreceivables #denialmanagement #consulting #management #implementationpartner Becker's Healthcare

Community First Choice (CFC) allows states to offer attendant care services on a state-wide basis to eligible members, through their state Medicaid Service – in Colorado, Health First Colorado. Through CFC, members would have the option to direct their attendant care services or to receive services through an agency. Encouraging self-direction is a foundational program goal. To enable states to adopt CFC, Congress has lowered the percentage Colorado would have to contribute from the current 50% of program costs to 44%. Learn more about this program that is targeted to be implemented by 2025.