The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #61517

Walter Leutz, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, MS 035, Waltham, MA 02454, 781 736 3960, leutz@brandeis.edu, John A Capitman, PhD, Schneider Institute for Health Policy, Brandies University, MS 035, 415 South Street, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454, Sarita Malik Bhalotra, MD, PhD, Schneider Institute for Health Policy, Heller School, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, MS 035, Waltham, MA 02454, and Vanessa Calderon-Rosado, PhD, National Center on Women and Aging, Brandeis University, MS 035, Waltham, MA 02454.

The "Cancer Prevention and Treatment Demonstration for Ethnic and Racial Minorities" evidence report offered recommendations for combining community health workers (CHWs) and new operational supports to improve the delivery of primary and secondary cancer prevention and treatment services to racial/ethnic group Medicare beneficiaries by providing three interventions delivered by CHWs: health risk management (HRM), screening adherence and detection facilitation (SADF) services, and treatment and follow-up facilitation (TAFF). We conducted an assessment of existing programs paying for CHW services, which provided critical information in the development of the Demonstration Management Protocol, reimbursement mechanisms and operational supports components. Existing assessed programs primarily included Medicaid programs, but also included other payers (e.g., state home care agencies), particularly those focused on serving elders. The assessment was conducted by telephone and designed to take approximately 45 minutes. Approximately 50 individuals were interviewed, representing 35-40 distinct CHW programs (since some states cover CHWs for different populations under different conditions). The assessment questions covered general management, clinical, and training topics, and focused uniquely on the program's current revenues or reimbursement for staffing CHWs, including payment levels, payment approaches, and reporting requirements of payers. The assessment also inquired with each program about technological and organizational supports used to enhance the productivity of CHWs. Findings from the assessment will be presented and discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Identify diverse existing programs paying for CHWs.
• 2. Describe components of existing CHW programs that were relevant in designing the management protocol of the demonstration, needed operational supports and reimbursement mechanisms.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.