Unlocking the power of nonmedical care in 2024
As the year comes to an end, we can’t help but reflect on this newsletter, the Community Health Corner , which was created earlier this year for the community health workers who put their blood, sweat and tears into the important work they do.?
Across the different installments, we’ve covered a variety of topics, including:
This final issue of 2023, we’re returning to social drivers of health (SDOH), as they continue to be a pressing concern among our most vulnerable populations. You already know, but the holiday season brings heightened financial, emotional, and logistical challenges to community members, which is why we need to start thinking about sustainable solutions.?
We hope you enjoy this issue – and please, take care of yourself during this busy season.?
Best,
Cesar Herrera?
Co-founder and CEO of Yuvo Health
PS - Do you enjoy reading this newsletter? If so, please share with your network.
Meeting patients’ nonmedical needs in 2024?
Social drivers of health – such as housing instability, food insecurity, and health literacy – have always disproportionately affected patients in disadvantaged or underserved communities. But only in recent years have policymakers and the healthcare industry recognized the importance of investing in solutions for reducing these barriers to care.?
There are many new federal and state policies, recommendations and requirements for Medicaid and CHIP programs to follow, such as the new ICD-10-CM “Z codes ” and recent guidance around health-related social needs (HRSN) , which put emphasis on collecting data from and reimbursing providers who are actively addressing SDOH.?
This creates a unique opportunity for FQHCs who are actively working with the highest risk, patient populations. Addressing SDOH factors can help you:
Gain greater clinical insight on nonmedical factors influencing your patients’ ability to manage their care.
If a patient with diabetes doesn’t know how to shop for or cook nutritional food, they aren’t going to eat healthy. Knowing this, you can share educational materials or connect the patient to local organizations providing food literacy courses.?
Get reimbursed for the many preventative services you’re providing.
For far too long providers were paid based on the number of services they provided and the number of patients they saw, as opposed to the quality of care they delivered. Value-based care arrangements are changing this. Now, nonmedical services, such as conducting screenings and community-based referrals will contribute to greater financial benefits for community health providers.?
Support the sustainability of community-based organizations (CBOs).
While many FQHCs are already connected to organizations in their area, greater emphasis has been placed on community care networks. And for good reason. Payers don’t have the resources to tackle SDOH directly and are therefore relying on local organizations to do this work. When you join these networks and arrangements, you reinforce the value of CBOs and you help break down the disconnect (and distrust) between CBOs and healthcare stakeholders.
“Value-based care unlocks the potential for optionality,” says Loren Anthes, MBA, CSSGB, Head of External Affairs at Yuvo Health.?
As you prepare for a new year, consider the ways in which you’ll build capacity, collect data, and contract with payers to not only address SDOH, but get properly paid for the preventative care you’re providing to ensure better population health outcomes in your community.?
Not sure where to begin? Yuvo Health can help you get started. Learn more about our offerings here .
3 valuable insights from a recent survey
More than 1,100 community health centers participated in a 2023 Health Center Survey Report conducted by Quest Diagnostics, which assessed current post-pandemic trends.?
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Insight #1: 52% of health centers report “staffing issues” as their greatest challenge
While 29% report patient care delivery as their second greatest challenge. We expect this to continue into 2024, as health centers discover new ways to utilize their staff (ex. team-based care ) and deliver care more effectively.?
Insight #2: “Stabilizing staffing issues” and “patient satisfaction” are top priorities for community health centers
Improving technological capabilities wasn’t an option, but among these two priorities (at 63% and 56%) rank higher than “operational and financial stability,” “identifying and addressing gaps in care” and “provider satisfaction.”
Insight #3: There’s a rising demand for nonclinical care services.
Community health centers are expected to not just provide standard in-office care. Now, they are shifting to telehealth, behavioral health and social services (which include food banks, care coordination, housing, employment and other service offerings.
“The 2024 CMS proposed changes for remote patient monitoring include FQHCs getting reimbursed for RPM services, which will be a total game-changer in the way these centers can operate sustainably and bring care to those that need it the most.”?
– Kristen Khoury, MBA, in reference to Navigating CMS's 2024 Changes: A Deep Dive into Remote Monitoring Services
Industry links
Millions of Americans have been disenrolled from Medicaid, even though many are still eligible and now CMS can require states to submit a corrective action plan if they don’t comply with reporting or eligibility requirements. Will this help?
Medicaid and CHIP Renewals: Patient-Centered Messaging for Clinical Offices and Health Care Settings
Take advantage of this free resource, which includes guidance around e-newsletters, recorded phone messages, outreach materials and more.?
Now’s the time to reflect back on the year and all that has happened. Spoiler: the Public Health Emergency (PHE) had the biggest impact and led to a number of different efforts (and policies) aimed at protecting our most vulnerable community members.
We love a good community health story… and this one is sure to bring a smile to your face. The new Food Bank will offer a free-choice market and house 14 other nonprofits and organizations in its new space, bringing together some of the city’s most widely used services.?
Mobile clinics are coming to a community near you, if they haven’t already. These models are changing the way patients access services – and could be the answer to some of healthcare’s biggest problems (i.e. maternal and postpartum care).
Get the ebook outlining data dilemmas for FQHCs
In case you missed it...
Can you define “payvider,” “expense risk” and “attribution?” Don’t worry, we’re not testing you… but we do want you to have the knowledge of an expert. Save or bookmark this cheat sheet for 2024 and be ready to tackle value-based care topics with the knowledge of an expert.
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