Social determinants of health — the conditions in which we live, work, and play — are critical drivers of health outcomes. People insured through Medicaid often have unmet health-related social needs that impact their well-being. Medicaid programs have begun to think about ways to identify and address these needs.

This webinar, made possible by The Commonwealth Fund, explored how state Medicaid agencies and health plans can partner with primary care teams to identify and address health-related social needs for the individuals and communities they serve. The 60-minute event focused on ways to strategically design managed care requirements and value-based payment models to advance work relating to health-related social needs.

YouTube video

Strengthening Primary Care through Medicaid Managed Care

This webinar is part of a learning series from the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), Strengthening Primary Care through Medicaid Managed Care, which is examining the tools and levers that states can use to advance comprehensive primary care strategies and equitably improve the health of Medicaid enrollees. The series is made possible by The Commonwealth Fund.

Agenda

I. Welcome and Introductions

Diana Crumley, Senior Program Officer, CHCS

D. Crumley welcomed participants and introduce the webinar topic. She provided a brief overview of how state Medicaid agencies can promote primary care innovation, as well as efforts to address HRSNs and health equity in the context of their Medicaid managed care programs.

II. Hawaii’s Approach to Addressing Health-Related Social Needs

Judy Mohr Peterson, Med-QUEST Division Administrator, Hawaii Department of Human Services

J. Mohr Peterson discussed Hawaii’s social determinants of health strategy and described how the state is using their Medicaid managed care program to identify and address HRSN in partnership with primary care teams.

III. Using Advanced Alternative Payment Models to Address Social Needs

Kat Ferguson-Mahan Latet, Director, Health System Innovation, Community Health Plan of Washington

K. Latet discussed Community Health Plan of Washington’s advanced alternative payment model for community health centers, which is designed to encourage data collection on social risk factors, enable investments in local communities, and advance health equity.

IV. Moderated Q&A

D. Crumley, CHCS

Presenters answered questions from the audience.