A new report highlights challenges and opportunities in the development of health services for the elderly and low-income populations. The study was conducted by HOP and involved focus groups with outreach health workers. The key findings of the focus groups were summarized and recommendations were made. Read on to learn more. This is a work in progress, and it will be updated periodically. We hope you find it useful. We hope to see you there! But first, let’s talk about the current state of health services for the elderly and low-income people in your area.
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Community-based outreach
A nonprofit health clinic has discovered that its health services program is reaching only 10 percent of the uninsured population. To close this gap, it has begun using educational outreach to train health and community leaders in 85 countries. Graduates of its programs serve as health and community advocates for 70 million people, according to the organization. Community-based outreach can be a highly effective way to improve health, prevent illness, and cultivate healthy habits in the target population.
This innovative community-based intervention, known as the Health Extension Program, was introduced in Ethiopia in 2003. The program is run by a new cadre of female health workers, known as Health Extension Workers. Two Health Extension Workers are deployed in each kebele, or administrative unit in Ethiopia. This program has increased access to essential health care. Unlike traditional health care providers, these health providers can reach the most rural communities, which is where many underserved residents reside.
CHAs are critical to the success of community-based health programs. In addition to offering a wide range of health services, these programs educate the community about a specific topic. Outreach workers give presentations to groups, provide localized information, and meet with families one-on-one. Once a population has been enrolled, outreach workers continue to follow up to make sure they understand how services are provided. Increasing community awareness about a certain topic can help reduce stigma and increase access to quality health care.
Mobile outreach services are becoming more popular, providing access to contraceptives. Mobile outreach services address inequities related to access to family planning and help women meet their reproductive health needs. Mobile outreach services also allow for strategic deployment of resources. Mobile health services can strategically deploy health care providers, commodities, supplies, vehicles, and infrastructure to areas where demand is highest. This is an especially important feature for rural communities and urban slums, where health workers are not as accessible as they might be in more urban areas.
The implementation of Community-based outreach health services can be difficult, but is essential to improving health. In addition to medical services, such services can improve a community’s social capital, and improve its quality of life. By implementing the recommendations of these programs, the results of their implementation can be measured to ensure they are effective. The end result is healthier communities. So, what should community-based outreach health services look like? Here are some examples.
Home visits
Outreach health services offer home visits as a way to connect with at-risk populations. The populations they target include senior citizens, families with young children, and pregnant and postpartum women. Home visits by health professionals help patients and families access essential resources and improve their quality of life. Home visits include assessments, referrals, coaching, and development of care plans. These professionals often work with parents to improve parenting skills. There are a wide range of home visiting programs, ranging in size and scope.
Many states are now leveraging other funding sources to increase home visits. Home visiting grantees must invest in evidence-based programming and use these funds to fund home visiting programs. Federal sources, such as Medicaid, provide significant potential for increased funding. Although Medicaid is already used in part to fund home visits, this funding source remains underutilized. State-based health agencies can also leverage philanthropic funds to boost their home visiting programs.
The report summarizes strategies that have worked well in states that use Medicaid to support home visits. It also discusses the challenges and barriers involved in leveraging Medicaid funds to support home visiting. It also identifies policy recommendations for streamlining the accessibility and use of Medicaid funds. The authors of the report used information from published resources, conversations with national organizations, and interviews with 19 practitioners in nine states. This guide will help practitioners learn how to best maximize Medicaid resources for home visits.
The results of this study may underestimate the number of social needs among patients. As the patients self-identify, their social needs are likely underestimated. The study also did not account for these patients’ needs in other outcomes. The study found that only 23% of patients received home visits, and a third of those who returned to the clinic were enrolled in a health program. These findings suggest that outreach health services should continue to focus on this important population.
Although many parents were unaware of the existence of home visits, some parents did and valued these services. Parents also reported that outreach health services provided extra support, such as listening to their concerns and making appointments. These services also helped them know what was happening in their communities through social media. They also found out about other community resources. The study also found that outreach health services were a good strategy for connecting vulnerable families to specialized care. However, the researchers did not have access to all services and their policies.
Self-directed care
A major challenge of self-directed care is the Medicaid rules. States are applying stricter medical necessity criteria to health services and this is causing significant problems for self-directed consumers. Medicaid funds services based on medical necessity, but self-direction pushes the limits of the program. Self-directed care also requires recovery support services, which contribute to mental health and overall wellbeing. While many states still provide some form of case management, this option is only offered to consumers in a few states.
State Medicaid regulations vary significantly, affecting the scope of self-direction. However, states are required to set aside 2.5% of each capitation payment as a community reinvestment fund to support service innovation. In Iowa, for example, self-directed care programs rely on Medicaid dollars. However, they do not have as much flexibility as a self-directed model, and there are many competing priorities. For these reasons, state governments must develop a sustainable funding model for self-directed care.
Another advantage to self-direction is that people with disabilities are given greater choice over who provides support. Instead of having to work with a group of strangers, they can select a specific person to support their care. This means that providers are more likely to work harder to keep their clients, and they may be more responsive to their needs. However, it should be noted that self-directed care is still a relatively new concept and the evidence of its effectiveness is limited.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provided grants to develop a national demonstration project for self-directed care through outreach health services. Both projects evolved into demonstration programs under section 1115 authority of the Act. The Affordable Care Act and Deficit Reduction Act opened two more avenues for states to offer the option. These programs have become a model for expanding self-direction and improving access to healthcare. In Michigan, this initiative is largely funded by state Medicaid plans.
In addition to self-direction, outreach health services can provide support and resources. Self-direction programs can be tailored to meet the unique needs of consumers, enabling them to avoid the complexities of the public system. In many cases, consumers can choose what services they need on their own, which increases their sense of control and the value of their money. However, consumers must be aware of these programs and seek information from them to help them make an informed decision.
Maternal infant health community collaborative
The Maternal Infant Community Health Collaborative is a grant-funded project of the Suffolk County Department of Health Services. Its goal is to promote healthy lifestyle choices for women of childbearing age and help them prevent and manage diseases in their children. Workers at the Maternal and Infant Community Health Collaborative provide education, referral, and advocacy services, and help parents understand the importance of health for their children. Workers in the Collaborative’s service areas speak Spanish, English, and Bronx-language services.
The collaborative will analyze existing health disparities in the health care system to develop strategies to eliminate these gaps. The collaborative will examine care practices for diverse populations to identify how to improve outcomes for women and infants. They will also examine the effects of different interventions on mothers and their babies, as well as existing health risks for mothers and infants. By developing collaboratives with the involvement of community-based organizations, hospitals can improve the quality of care and reduce disparities in care for women and infants.
The initiative was launched in 2008 with the goal of improving maternal and infant health outcomes and reducing social disparities. Its partners include MCAH, the Women, Infant & Children Division, and the Center for Health Equity. The funding for the MIHA project comes from federal funds through Title V, Maternal and Child Health Block Grant, and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program. All these programs are part of the Maternal and Infant Health Initiative (MIHI).
