Online Program

Oral

Community Health Workers (CHWs) are an integral workforce for overall health. Our research will address the importance of their work in not only healthcare but also in population health. Examples of CHW interventions showing return-on-investment and positive outcomes for overall health will be shown from other states with a focus on New England states. The interventions will be presented to payers and policy officials in order to recognize and sustain the workforce in the New England region. Findings will include perspectives from payers about paying for CHWs, which type of health care reform program they are most interested in to employ CHWs, and funding methods used currently or which funding methods New England payers are interested to use in the future. Health in all policies will be encouraged to sustain and recognize CHWs within overall health by providers and community outreach programs. Our session will focus in on Rhode Island as a New England state that is moving towards a health in all policies, population health framework to encourage a diversified health workforce that includes CHWs. The RI health in all policies legislation should be used as health policy and funding exemplars in other New England states to help achieve health equity and the goals of the Triple Aim. Our recommendations and discussion will include what payers are looking for to employ and pay CHWs, the status of New England states to employ CHWs, and advanced payment models that are most desired from payers to use. Our research will also provide outcome measurements that payers would use to evaluate for CHW performance and finally what both public and private payers are looking for to employ and eventually sustain this workforce especially in regards to a health in all policies framework.

Session Objectives: -Describe at least five CHW interventions in New England that help improve population heath, care experience, health equity and lower per-capita costs. -Assess the current, sustainable funding methods and legislation for CHWs in New England. -Define different advanced payment models, healthcare reform program roles, and health in all policies for the recognition and sustainability of CHWs in healthcare organizations and population health. -Evaluate the Rhode Island General Law (RIGL) 23-64.1 health in all policies approach which requires the engagement of a cross-section of state agencies, leaders and policy makers at all levels, and the public to focus on the social determinants of health for the wellbeing of the popula¬tion. -Discuss future action steps for executing advanced payment models and health in all policies to sustain CHWs in order to achieve health equity and the Triple Aim in New England.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)