The Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model, launched in 2017 by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, screens beneficiaries for health-related social needs and
supports navigation of beneficiaries with community services.
In two articles released ahead-of-print today, authors discuss addressing health-related social needs in the Accountable Health Communities Model.
William Parish and coauthors analyze data from 2015-2021 to determine Model utilization is associated with reductions in emergency department visits for both Medicaid and fee-for service Medicare beneficiaries.
Interviews with participants show navigation services may lead beneficiaries "to be more proactive in seeking appropriate care."
Collectively, Parish and coauthors’ findings "provide mixed evidence that engaging with beneficiaries who have health-related social needs can impact health care outcomes."
The authors find that "navigation did not significantly increase the rate of community service provider connections or the rate of
[social] needs resolution, relative to a randomized control group."
Interviews indicate challenges connecting beneficiaries to services and that even when connections were made, resources often were insufficient to resolve beneficiaries’ needs.
Patricia Boozang and coauthors examine the "unwinding" of Medicaid after the expiration of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and discuss how to maintain coverage during the return to regular, pre-pandemic Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) eligibility and enrollment operations.
This month, we're highlighting influential Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander voices and organizations
who have made an impact on health equity and policy.
In a February 2022 article, Stella S. Yi and coauthors provide recommendations on how to implement systems-level change and educational reform to infuse racial equity in future policy and practice for Asian American communities.
Health Affairs is launching a contest! The premise is simple. Finish the statement "You’re A Health Policy Wonk If…"
We'll share some of the submissions on Forefront in July, and the first-place winner of the contest will receive a Health Affairs tumbler and a free Unlimited membership for a year. Submit by May 31.
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