Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #107698

Holly Felix, MPA¹, M. Kate Stewart, MD, MPH¹, Naomi Cottoms, MS², Mary Olson, DMin², and Herb Sanderson, MPA³. (1) College of Public Health, Health Policy and Management, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Slot 820, Little Rock, AR 72205, 51-526-6626, Felixholly@uams.edu, (2) Tri-County Rural Health Network, Inc., 419 Cherry Street, Helena, AR 72342, (3) Division of Aging and Adult Services, Arkansas Department of Human Services, PO Box 1437--S530, Little Rock, AR 72203

Community health workers have been used in a variety of settings and for a variety of purposes for more than 50 years. Their positive impact in helping disenfranchised and marginalized members of society to improve their health status, their health behaviors, and their health care service utilization patterns has been well documented in the academic literature. Community health worker programs have often been viewed as falling outside the traditional health care system. CHW programs historically have relied on grant funding and often struggle to maintain continuous funding streams to support their activities. Health policy researchers in Arkansas, in partnership with the Tri-County Rural Health Network and the Arkansas Division of Adult and Aging Services, and with funding from the Enterprise Corporation of the Delta's Emerging Markets Partnership, have been exploring potential pathways available through the Medicaid program to provide a sustainable funding stream for CHW programs. This presentation will present lessons learned from this investigation, including reviewing various Medicaid funding mechanisms (e.g. Section 1115 and Section 1915 (b)/(c) waivers), the advantages and disadvantages of each mechanism, and the pathway currently being pursued in Arkansas to support a CHW program.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss various funding mechanisms available through the Medicaid program to support CHW programs.
• List advantages and disadvantages of each funding mechanism.
• Describe the Medicaid funding pathway being pursued in Arkansas to support CHW programs.

Keywords: Community Health Advisor, Funding

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation