How Community Health Workers Can Reinvent Health Care Delivery In The US

As health policy, research and practice are becoming increasingly focused on improving the health of populations and addressing social determinants of health, Community Health Workers (CHWs) may be just what the doctor ordered. As part of the public health workforce with ties to the local community, CHWs can now be reimbursed by Medicaid for providing preventive services if recommended by a physician or other licensed practitioner. This groundbreaking CMS regulatory change, along with policy support from the Affordable Care Act, holds the promise of bridging the gap between mainstream health care and community health through expanding the CHW profession and its impact on clinical care. Much like other disruptive changes in health care, however, fulfilling this potential will require a new way of thinking among state policymakers and the health care system at large. Who are Community Health Workers? While CHWs hold many different titles and roles, the American Public Health Association’s classification best defines them as “a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member and/or has a close understanding of the community served.” They also can be defined by what they are not: CHWs are not physician extenders, nor are they unskilled labor. Community Health Workers have a long and proud history of accomplished service in the U.S. and abroad in reaching traditionally underserved populations within communities that typically have both complex medical and social needs...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: Access All Categories Health Care Delivery Primary Care Public Health Workforce Source Type: blogs