A recording of this April 6 event is available for replay at Vimeo.com.
Over the last decade, Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) have made significant headway in developing initiatives to address both individual-level health-related social needs (HRSN) and community-level social determinants of health (SDOH). New guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expands these opportunities by allowing states to consider select HRSN services as Medicaid benefits, including housing and nutrition supports, as well as HRSN case management. This guidance, along with other recent changes to waivers, regulations, and requirements, adds nationwide momentum to integrate health and social care and promote health equity.
The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) recently partnered with the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) to publish Financing Approaches to Address Social Determinants of Health via Medicaid Managed Care: A 12-State Review, which explores how states are financing MCO HRSN activities and using federal flexibilities to do so. This webinar highlighted key takeaways from the report including how MCOs can strategically use financial resources to scale and sustain HRSN services. The webinar featured perspectives from an MCO. Lessons can inform collaborative efforts across states, MCOs, and community-based organizations (CBOs) as they work to expand benefits beyond the traditional scope of health care.
Agenda
I. Welcome and Introduction
Speaker: Jennifer McGuigan Babcock, MPH, Senior Vice President for Medicaid Policy, ACAP
J. Babcock provided opening remarks.
II. Report Findings and Policy Recommendations
Speakers: Diana Crumley, JD, MPAff, Senior Program Officer, and Amanda Bank, MPH, Program Associate, CHCS
D. Crumley and A. Bank highlighted common HRSN financing approaches used by states including approved in lieu of services, rate adjustments, medical loss ratio (MLR) guidance, and performance incentives. They also reviewed report findings and policy recommendations.
III. Safety Net Health Plan Reactions and Achievements
Speaker: Dwayne Dabbs, Senior Director of Community Transformation – Complex Health, CareSource
D. Dabbs discussed how CareSource has developed innovative strategies to operationalize and sustain HRSN/SDOH activities.
IV. Moderated Q&A
Moderator: J. Babcock, ACAP
V. Wrap Up
Speaker: J. Babcock, ACAP
J. Babcock provided closing remarks.
