In 1998, ninety Community Health Workers (CHW’s) and other health care professionals’ mobilized and gave testimony in support of the Maryland Health Outreach Act (Senate Bill 650). CHW’s described their roles, components of community outreach, and the value of comprehensive outreach strategies in undeserved communities. The success of this initiative, based solely on the testimony of CHW’s, resulted in the passing of Senate Bill 650 in the Maryland House and Senate. This legislation requires Managed Care Organizations (MCO’s) serving Medicaid recipients to develop a written plan outlining outreach components that must be approved and monitored by the Secretary of Health. The Maryland Health Outreach Act strengthens existing laws aimed at increasing access and utilization of health care services. This landmark legislation is the first in the country and serves as a successful model. The success of Senate Bill 650 led to the development of two community building outcomes. One, plans are underway to develop a Community Health Resource Center, intended to improve health care delivery and provide enhanced economic opportunities through job creation and entrepreneurship. Second, CHW’s organized to found the Community Outreach Workers Association of Maryland (COWAM). Organized in Baltimore, Maryland, the association is mobilizing a statewide network of CHW’s whose goals include, developing a database that will identify existing outreach programs, building capacity for CHW's and the communities they serve, and advocating for effective public health policies.
Learning Objectives: To demostrate how grassroots political action and legislation may be used to create new and exciting health outreach paths in communities as well as create vibrant, vital, and necessary organization in the process
Keywords: Politics, Community Outreach
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.