Author: lavonlewis1@gmail.com

By HCDI Communications

Healthcare Dynamics International (HCDI) presented Numbers to Names: Driving Health Equity Results Through a Whole-Person, Whole-Community Approach to Care at the Association of Community Health Plans (ACAP) webinar on December 14, 2023, along with a well-known health plan client.

During the webinar, over 50  attendees, including many from safety health net plans across the country, listened as HCDI President and Founder, Jean Drummond discussed the impact of not only quantitative data, but more importantly, qualitative data in identifying member healthcare access barriers and developing effective health equity interventions.

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Grievances

The one-hour webinar focused on the non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) services provided to Medicaid members of HCDI’s health plan client. It highlighted how missed transportation appointments were linked to increased emergency room visits and, likewise, increased financial costs for health plans.  The plan received over 3,000 claims from nearly 1,500 Medicaid members sighting transportation grievances for missing their inpatient and outpatient medical appointments.

HCDI Transportation Solutions for Health Plan: Qualitative and Quantitative Member Analysis and Driver Training

To work towards reducing the number of transportation grievances, HCDI supported the health plan by connecting with members over the phone and holding live, paid, discussion groups to hear their stories. Through these engagement efforts, we uncovered what went wrong with their service and why they missed their appointments and compiled a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative data analysis focused on a whole-person, whole-community approach.

HCDI found that approximately 61% of the claimants indicated they were missing their primary care visits due to NEMT, while the remaining missed physical therapy, behavioral health, and in some instances dialysis appointments and more.  Members indicated transportation service no-shows, late or early pickups, driver or staff misconduct, and unclean cars kept them from making their appointments.

HCDI also initiated training sessions with drivers from the health plan’s transportation provider. Some courses involved wheelchair safety, implicit bias, and sensitivity training so drivers understand that they play an integral role in driving health outcomes. At the end of the webinar, Drummond emphasized that drivers are just as responsible for member care as are the primary care providers.

To learn more about HCDI and how we take a health equity approach to tackling the most difficult problems faced by managed care plans, visit hcdi2.creativevelocity.site/ or contact us directly at info@hcdi.com.

The Significance of HIV Prevention, Testing, and Treatment to Improve Health Outcomes

By HCDI Communications

December is World HIV/AIDS Awareness Month. During this month, we show support for people living with HIV/AIDS and encourage HIV testing for disease prevention and treatment. HIV, which stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, weakens a person’s immune system by destroying vital cells that fight disease and infection.  More than 1.2 million in the United States are living with HIV.

Common ways of HIV transmission include unprotected sex, sharing needles/syringes and drug injection equipment, and from a mother to her baby.  Some groups of people are more likely to get HIV than others. Teens, young adults, and men who have sex with other men are at higher risk of getting STIs and likewise at a higher risk of getting HIV.  In 2021, male-to-male sexual contact accounted for 67% (24,107) of all new HIV diagnoses while heterosexual contact accounted for 22% (8,059) of all HIV diagnoses.  That same year, African Americans accounted for 40% (14,528) of all new HIV diagnoses while Hispanics/Latinos accounted for 29% (10,467) of all new HIV diagnoses. The population most affected is African American gay and bisexual men with 8,883 cases, followed by Hispanic/Latino gay and bisexual men with 8,000 cases in 2021.

While there is no cure for HIV, with proper medical care from a healthcare provider, the disease can be controlled.  If left untreated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), where opportunistic infections (OIs) develop, like pneumonia, lymphoma, tuberculosis, cervical cancer, or wasting syndrome, or when CD4 cell count drops below 200 cells per milliliter of blood.

HIV Testing

For HIV prevention, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend everyone 13 to 64 years old get tested. People with certain risk factors should get tested yearly.  HIV tests are generally covered by health insurance without co-pay, as required by the Affordable Care Act. You can get tested by your healthcare provider, buy a self-test at a pharmacy, locate a testing site, or contact your local health department for free or low-cost HIV tests.

HIV Treatment

Once HIV is confirmed through testing, it is vital to consult with a doctor to begin treatment.  Taking your HIV medicine reduces the amount of HIV in your system, enhances your immune systems and prevents drug resistance. The side effects of HIV treatment are similar to other shots and medicine, and include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty sleeping, dry mouth, headache, rash, dizziness, fatigue, temporary pain at the injection site.

Healthy People 2030 Prevention and Treatment of STIs and HIV

Healthy People 2030 focuses on preventing and treating sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, and on improving the health and well-being of people who have them through measuring a series of related objectives.Concerning HIV prevention and treatment, Healthy People 2030 is finding little to no detectable changes in:

• Reducing the number of new HIV infections
• Increasing viral suppression
• The proportion of adolescents who get formal sex education

However, improvements have been made in:

• Reducing the number of new HIV diagnoses
• The rate of mother-to-child HIV transmission
• Increasing the linkage to HIV medical care

To continue to improve HIV prevention and treatment results, proper preventative care and health education for teens and young adults as well as pregnant mothers with HIV is critical.  Promoting healthy behaviors like condom use and testing can improve health outcomes and prevent the spread of HIV to others.

HCD International Conducts Outreach to Promote Healthy Behaviors

In our daily work engaging with health plans and residents, HCD International is committed to ensuring that our most vulnerable can get or have access to healthcare and social services resources.  Through our culturally intelligent outreach, HCDI community health workers screen for Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) barriers and provide health education and resources for accessing health needs like healthy food, housing, mental health, HIV testing, and transportation for HIV treatment and preventative care.

To learn more about our health equity engagement services, visit hcdi.com or contact us directly at info@hcdi.com.

What is Healthy People 2030

Originating in 1979, the Healthy People initiative began when the United States Surgeon General Julius Richmond issued the “Healthy People: The Surgeon General’s Report on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention.” The mission of Healthy People 2030 is “to promote, strengthen, and evaluate the nation’s efforts to improve the health and well-being of all people” with a vision to cultivate a society where all people can achieve their full potential for health and well-being.

To learn more about Healthy People 2030, visit health.gov/healthypeople.

By HCDI Communications

This month is American Diabetes Awareness Month, where we bring awareness to the more than 37 million Americans living with diabetes and the 96 million with prediabetes.

Diabetes is a serious health condition that affects how your body produces insulin. There are three different types of diabetes – Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational.  While Type 1 can be diagnosed at any age, Type 2 develops over time due to an unhealthy lifestyle.  Gestational diabetes is brought on with pregnancy and usually goes away once the baby is born; however, it places babies at risk of developing obesity and diabetes later in life.

People who eat too many unhealthy foods that are high in saturated fat and added sugars are at increased risk for obesity and diabetes. Diabetes can lead to serious health problems over time, including heart disease, vision loss, kidney disease, and leg or foot amputations, if not properly treated. While there isn’t a cure for diabetes, eating healthy, exercising, and taking prescribed medicine can help manage the disease. Although diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death among Americans, many do not know they have it; therefore, the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion’s Healthy People 2030 focuses on diabetes management and prevention.

Healthy People 2030 was designed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to help people across the country improve their quality of health.  The program provides health literacy and social support information for those facing Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) challenges, such as living in unsafe or rural neighborhoods and difficulty affording or accessing basic needs, like healthy food and medicines. Many within these vulnerable populations do not eat a healthy, balanced diet or are unable to see a doctor or acquire necessary medications due to their SDoH barriers and this can negatively impact their overall health and lead to serious health conditions like diabetes. Some racial/ethnic minorities, including American Indians, African Americans, and Hispanics, are more likely to have diabetes as well.

Healthy People 2030 Diabetes Goal and Objectives

Healthy People 2030 focuses on reducing the burden of diabetes and improving quality of life for all people who have or are at risk for diabetes through a series of objectives. The objectives concentrate on reducing diabetic cases, deaths, and undiagnosed prediabetes as well as increasing formal diabetes education, insulin usage and blood sugar monitoring, and routine eye exams for diabetic retinopathy screening. Improvement is necessary for all noted objectives to reduce the burden of diabetes among all U.S. populations.

Healthy People 2030 Solutions to Reduce the Burden of Diabetes

To alleviate the burden of diabetes among Americans, Healthy People 2030 emphasizes the need for programs to educate people in the treatment of diabetes.  Diabetics who control their blood sugar levels with medication treatments, such as insulin, along with proper nutrition and physical activity can prevent serious health complications like amputations. For those at risk of prediabetes, educational interventions to help people eat healthier, exercise, and lose weight can prevent new cases from happening and lower the death rate.

Many people with diabetes, especially in minority populations, don’t get yearly eye exams. A common eye disease among diabetics is diabetic retinopathy, which can lead to blindness if not treated.  Healthy People 2030 finds routine eye exams can pinpoint diabetic retinopathy early, when it is easier to treat, and prevent vision loss.

HCDI Provides Diabetes Health Education and Schedules Diabetic Retinal Eye Exams
HCDI International manages a Diabetes Center of Excellence (DCOE) online offering diabetes health education and prediabetes healthy lifestyle coaching through its Maryland-based Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP).   HCDI recruits DPP cohorts each year through a prediabetes risk assessment. Cohorts meet weekly for several weeks to support healthy eating habits and physical activity.  HCDI provides lifestyle coaching so participants develop healthy meal and exercise plans.  The goal of the program is to reduce the number of diabetes cases and deaths and to improve the health of our most vulnerable within the state of Maryland.

In addition to managing a DCOE and local DPP program, HCDI also engages with members of a well-known health plan to schedule diabetic retinopathy exams for their members. During these calls, our community health workers (CHWs) ensure members are educated on the importance of diabetic retinal eye exams for the early detection of diabetic retinopathy and the prevention of vision loss. Additionally, our CHWs will host diabetic retinal eye exam community events for the health plan provider throughout the year to screen residents with diabetes.

To learn more about HCD International’s health equity engagements with state health departments and government-sponsored health plans, visit hcdi.com or contact us directly at info@hcdi.com.

What is Healthy People 2030

Originating in 1979, the Healthy People initiative began when the United States Surgeon General Julius Richmond issued the “Healthy People: The Surgeon General’s Report on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention.” Led by the U.S. Health and Human Services’ Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotions, Healthy People 2030 emerged in 2020 as the fifth iteration addressing the latest public health priorities.

The mission of Healthy People 2030 is “to promote, strengthen, and evaluate the nation’s efforts to improve the health and well-being of all people” with a vision to cultivate a society where all people can achieve their full potential for health and well-being. Healthy People 2030 encompasses 359 core, measurable objectives along with developmental and research objectives, with 23 leading health indicators, to improve health outcomes over the next decade.  Objectives include baseline data from, in most cases, no earlier than 2015 and is extracted three times throughout the duration of the decade from over 80 federal, Health and Human Services (HHS) and non-HHS data systems. Topics covered span from health conditions to health behaviors, populations, settings and systems, and social determinants of health.

To learn more about Healthy People 2030, visit health.gov/healthypeople.

By HCDI Communications  

Last week, HealthCare Dynamics International (HCDI) was honored to participate in the largest managed care conference of the year – Medicaid Health Plans of America 2023 – at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center near Washington, D.C. During the three-day exhibition, from October 18 to 20, 2023, the team engaged with many leaders in the Medicaid industry sharing HCDI’s health equity capabilities, including redeterminations, HEDIS gap closures, value-based care and payment models, health equity strategy and accreditation, health risk assessments, social needs support and more.  

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On the final day of the conference, HCDI sponsored and presented at the Illuminating and Addressing SDOH with a Data-Driven Approach workshop where we introduced Socially Determined and discussed our unique, multipronged engagement approach to identifying Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) barriers. Together, HCDI and Socially Determined emphasized the importance of data-driven technology for driving health outcomes. 

While Socially Determined centered on their innovative data technology capabilities, HCDI President and Founder, Jean Drummond concentrated on HCDI’s culturally competent engagement with some of the hardest-to-reach Medicaid members to close gaps in care, increase member satisfaction, and improve quality of care.  

During the presentation, Drummond explained that HCDI’s engagement focuses on developing relationships over transactions. We work to build trust with members through a non-judgmental mindset, lean-in approach that demonstrates empathy and applies emotional intelligence to address SDoH barriers, close the social need loop, and connect members to the quality care they deserve. 

HCDI is an award-winning, woman- and minority-owned organization operating since 1991 that is dedicated to improving the health outcomes of all, especially vulnerable populations. HCDI’s culturally diverse staff of over 150 full-time professionals from 20 different countries has engaged with over 1 million lives, impacted over 100,000 hard to reach individuals, and closed over 14,000 gaps in care from June 2022 to June 2023. We engage families with children, those with chronic disease, individuals covered by Medicaid as well as those with Medicaid/Medicare dual coverage. We work with local, state and federal governments and well-known managed care organizations nationwide to conduct culturally intelligent outreach, examine data through trademarked analytic tools to address SDoH barriers, and provide health insurance and social services resources to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes.  

To learn more about HCDI’s health equity engagement services, visit hcdi2.creativevelocity.site/ or contact us directly at info@hcdi.com. 

By HCDI Communications

October is Health Literacy Month, a time when the country celebrates and recognizes the importance of greater health literacy and creating a more equitable world, where even our most vulnerable receive quality healthcare. Health literacy is a central focus of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion’s Healthy People 2030.

Healthy People 2030 seeks to improve health communication so people can easily understand and act on health information.  Generally, people who don’t understand health information are less likely to get preventative health care and are more likely to have health problems. Health care providers, information technology, electronic health record systems (EHRs), health departments, and news outlets are all responsible for driving health literacy through accessible, easy-to-understand information.  They are also responsible for ensuring information is available in multiple languages for people who have limited English proficiency or who speak another language all together.

Many people have trouble talking to their doctor, so good communication between health care providers and patients is part of quality care. According to Healthy People 2030, when health care providers communicate clearly and use strategies such as teach-back and shared decision-making methods, they help people make more informed health decisions.

The teach-back method is when doctors ask patients to describe how they’ll follow the instructions in their own words while shared decision-making means patients and their doctors work together to make decisions. These strategies to improve communication between health care providers and patients can lead to better prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and self-management of diseases as well as improved patient satisfaction.

Another Healthy People 2030 objective involves making electronic health information easy to read and use.  The 21st Century Cures Act allows for improved patient access to online medical records in a secure, easy-to-understand format. At the same time, there are disparities in the use of information technology, like electronic health records, for health care by income, age, and sex, especially as it relates to senior citizens.  Educating people on the use of IT for health care and increasing internet access can help reduce these disparities and further promote informed health decisions.

Although not measured, Healthy People 2030 also suggests promoting health and safety information in both English and Spanish through health departments and news media channels (i.e., website, social media, TV).

Healthy People 2030 Health Literacy Objectives

The latest Healthy People 2030 data indicates that while progress has been made there is still more work be done to improve communication between patients and their health care providers. The data also shows that patient online access to EHRs is improving and even exceeding expectations.

Communication with health care providers

Online access to electronic health records

Other high priority public health issues Healthy People 2030 has identified include increasing the:

• Proportion of people who say their online medical record is easy to understand
• Proportion of adults with limited English proficiency who say their providers explain things clearly
• Health literacy of the population

HCD International Drives Health Literacy

HCD International’s H.E.A.R.T. (Health Equity Advanced Response Team) engages with some of the hardest to reach Medicaid and Medicare health plan members and community residents to inform, educate, and connect vulnerable populations to health care they deserve.  Our engagement specialists address any health concerns and Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) barriers that may affect their ability to attain quality care by providing resources for health plan redeterminations, non-emergency medical transportation services, mental health support, healthy food access, safe housing and more. Often, these vulnerable members and residents are grateful for our call to support their health and well-being.

HCDI also supports primary care practices through the transformation to value-based care (VBC) through its Care Transformation Organization (CTO). Our transformation specialists work with practices to improve communications, operations, and patient satisfaction.

What’s more, HCDI launched a new blog on our website this year, The Dove Report: Health Equity in Action, which features articles designed to provide easy-to-understand health literacy education to improve health outcomes. Beyond the blog, we participate in many global health equity conferences, webinars, and podcasts to further support our brand, health literacy, and our vision to improve health outcomes of all, especially our most vulnerable populations.

To learn more about our health equity engagements, visit hcdi.com or contact us directly at info@hcdi.com.

What is Healthy People 2030

Originating in 1979, the Healthy People initiative began when the United States Surgeon General Julius Richmond issued the “Healthy People: The Surgeon General’s Report on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention.” Led by the U.S. Health and Human Services’ Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotions, Healthy People 2030 emerged in 2020 as the fifth iteration addressing the latest public health priorities.

The mission of Healthy People 2030 is “to promote, strengthen, and evaluate the nation’s efforts to improve the health and well-being of all people” with a vision to cultivate a society where all people can achieve their full potential for health and well-being. Healthy People 2030 encompasses 359 core, measurable objectives along with developmental and research objectives, with 23 leading health indicators, to improve health outcomes over the next decade.  Objectives include baseline data from no earlier than 2015 and is extracted three times throughout the duration of the decade from over 80 federal, Health and Human Services (HHS) and non-HHS data systems. Topics covered span from health conditions to health behaviors, populations, settings and systems, and social determinants of health.

To learn more about Healthy People 2030, visit health.gov/healthypeople.

Jean at the CareForum 2023 WellSky Conference

By HCDI Communications

HealthCare Dynamics International (HCDI) speaking engagements at national healthcare and health equity conferences, webinars, and podcasts are in full swing this fall.

This month alone, HCDI led break-out sessions at the CareForum 2023 WellSky Conference on September 13, 2023, in Austin, Texas and the Illinois Association of Medicaid Health Plans (IAMHP) Stronger Together Conference on September 27, 2023, in Oakbrook Illinois.

HCDI President and Founder, Jean Drummond gave a compelling presentation focused on Medicaid member appeals and grievances with regards to non-emergency transportation (NEMT) services at CareForum 2023.  During the discussion, Drummond demonstrated how HCDI’s culturally competent engagements with plan members to identify and address Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) is making an impact to improve transportation services and member satisfaction, and likewise reduce no-show doctor appointments, unnecessary emergency room visits, and close gaps in care. HCDI made 55,000 calls to members and confirmed a 12% improved member satisfaction for a health plan provider.

More recently, Raj Patel, HCDI Data Analytics Director joined Drummond at the annual IAMHP Stronger Together conference to discuss HCDI’s data-driven strategy that centers on getting to the H.E.A.R.T. (Health Equity Advanced Response Team) of the matter to drive positive health outcomes.  Our H.E.A.R.T.’s culturally intelligent approach has led to engagement with a health plan provider that supports over 1 million Medicaid members to address SDoH, close gaps in care, and develop effective health equity interventions.

Through a health equity lens, Patel also shared health equity correlations between highest disparities and hospital visits. His analytics revealed hospital visits are highest among African Americans and Hispanic ethnic/racial groups with regards to heart disease, infectious disease, cancer, strokes, and kidney disease.

More conferences, webinars, and podcasts are on the horizon this fall for HCDI.

CareForum 2023 WellSky Conference

HCD International is an award-winning, woman- and minority-owned organization operating since 1991 that is dedicated to improving the health outcomes of all, especially vulnerable populations. HCDI has engaged with over 1 million, impacted over 100,000 hardest to reach, and closed over 14,000 gaps in care from June 2022 to June 2023 involving child measures, women’s health, chronic diseases, and Medicaid/Medicare dual coverage. We work with local, state and federal governments and major managed care organizations nationwide to conduct culturally competent outreach, examine data through trademarked analytic tools to address Social Determinants of Health (SDoH), and provide health insurance and social services resources to reduce health disparities and drive outcomes.

To learn more about HCDI’s health equity engagement services, visit hcdi2.creativevelocity.site/ or contact us directly at info@hcdi.com.

This month is National Emergency Preparedness month, which is an annual September observance to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies.

COVID-19-Vaccine

A leading Healthy People 2030 objective focuses on making sure individuals, communities, and organizations are prepared for disease outbreaks, medical emergencies and other public health disasters. Individuals and communities should be prepared for a public health emergency because it can happen at any time, and being prepared can save lives.  We recently experienced the negative impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. The COVID-19 pandemic that began in March 2020 resulted in over a million deaths and 6 million hospitalizations in the U.S. due to the deadly international virus outbreak.

Vaccinations, such as COVID-19, hepatitis, seasonal influenza, among others, prevent serious disease outbreaks and ensure emergency preparedness.  A related Healthy People 2030 objective centers on increasing vaccination rates. More specifically, the objective concentrates on ensuring infants and children receive recommended vaccinations because some U.S. communities have low coverage rates and are at a greater risk of outbreaks.  In addition, Healthy People 2030 also measures adolescents and the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine to prevent cancer and zones in on older adults and vaccinations to prevent pneumonia and flu.

Healthy People 2030 shows the following vaccine rates:

Strategies such as requiring vaccination for children in school as well as providing vaccine education, vaccine reminders, and most of all making it easier to get vaccines, such as at a pharmacy or within a school or workplace, are the key to reducing infectious disease rates according to Healthy People 2030.

The Latest COVID-19 Booster Recommendations

Are you aware of the latest COVID-19 vaccine recommendations?  As of July 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says anyone 6 years and older should get 1 updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of whether they’ve received the original COVID-19 vaccines.  There are additional requirements for older adults, immunocompromised individuals, and children under 6 years old as noted below.

New vaccines expected this fall 2023, as early as this month, to provide protection against the Omicron variant XBB.1.5. To find COVID-19 vaccine locations near you, visit vaccines.gov.

HCD International Led Mass Vaccination Site to Minimize COVID-19 Outbreaks  

HCD International was instrumental in controlling COVID-19 outbreaks. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, HCDI was called upon by a county health department to plan and lead a mass vaccination site. The county was experiencing extremely high percentages of COVID-19 outbreaks, the highest in the state. In less than two weeks, HCDI transformed a sports complex into a vaccination center, employing over 125 healthcare professionals and HCDI staff to administer COVID-19 vaccinations safely and efficiently to residents. Over the course of the year, from March 2021 to April 2022, HCDI vaccinated nearly 60,000 residents and exceeded their goal of 50,000.

To learn more about HCD International’s health equity engagement services for state health departments and managed care organizations, visit hcdi2.creativevelocity.site/ or contact us directly at info@hcdi.com.

What is Healthy People 2030

Originating in 1979, the Healthy People initiative began when the United States Surgeon General Julius Richmond issued the “Healthy People: The Surgeon General’s Report on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention.” Led by the U.S. Health and Human Services’ Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotions, Healthy People 2030 emerged in 2020 as the fifth iteration addressing the latest public health priorities.

The mission of Healthy People 2030 is “to promote, strengthen, and evaluate the nation’s efforts to improve the health and well-being of all people” with a vision to cultivate a society where all people can achieve their full potential for health and well-being. Healthy People 2030 encompasses 359 core, measurable objectives along with developmental and research objectives, with 23 leading health indicators, to improve health outcomes over the next decade.  Objectives include baseline data from no earlier than 2015 and data is extracted three times throughout the duration of the decade. Topics covered span from health conditions to health behaviors, populations, settings and systems, and social determinants of health.

To learn more about Healthy People 2030, visit health.gov/healthypeople.

One of the leading health objectives of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion’s (ODPHP) Healthy People 2030 is to increase health insurance coverage across the country.  The ODPHP cites that roughly 30 million people in the United States still do not have health insurance coverage. Increasing medical along with dental and prescription drug coverage are all necessary objectives to improve health outcomes for all, especially those most vulnerable.

Populations in underserved and rural communities are less likely to get the healthcare services and medications they need, which leads to poorer health outcomes.  Social determinants of health (SDoH) barriers such as transportation, income, location, and education affect their ability to obtain health coverage and receive proper preventive care. Without basic health, dental, and prescription drug insurance coverage, people are more likely to skip routine visits or medication doses to save money, which puts them at serious risk of developing health problems, including chronic conditions that may impact their health long-term.

There is good news! According to Healthy People 2030, health insurance, dental, and prescription drug coverage are, in fact, improving each year.  Data extracted from 2019 and 2021 for Americans under 65 years old shows the following coverage percentages:

These percentages need to keep rising as we get to 2030 to improve health outcomes. Strategies to increase insurance coverage rates such as increasing the use of primary care providers, which is an interconnectedHealthy People 2030 objective, is an important way to maintain health and prevent serious diseases.  Primary care providers develop long-term relationships with patients and provide team-based care and innovative payments methods to keep costs affordable and improve care.

Other health insurance coverage objectives involve ensuring people with disabilities and those with tobacco dependencies receive healthcare access.  In 2020, 54% of adults with disabilities aged 18 and over experienced delays in receiving primary and periodic preventive care due to cost as compared to 53% in 2019.  Also, as of 2022, 20 states, including Washington, D.C. have comprehensive Medicaid coverage treatment for nicotine dependency as compared to 15 states in 2019.

How HCD International’s Outreach Efforts Seek to Improve Health Insurance Coverage

At HCD International, we provide outreach efforts for health organizations and health plans locally and across the nation to improve health insurance coverage and health outcomes for all, especially those most vulnerable.  As a result of the Affordable Care Act, HCDI staff conduct outreach at local referral hubs and over the phone to educate uninsured residents with health education resources and make state marketplace insurance available.  Additionally, HCDI-led events are held throughout the year, especially during the open enrollment period, along with social media advertising to increase awareness of state health insurance options. In 2022, HCDI reached over 5,500 residents in one county alone.

HCDI also works with national managed care organizations (MCO) to address redetermination efforts. Since September 2022, we notified over 22,000 members of a major managed care plan that their health insurance would expire, due to the end of the national Public Health Emergency (PHE), if not reassessed.  During engagement efforts, HCDI staff offered form guidance to ensure uninterrupted coverage which has led to over 1,000 members completing the renewal process so far. Overall, HCDI has been able to reach 95% of the MCO’s contact list andcontinues to work tirelessly to ensure the renewal total keeps climbing and those most vulnerable retain their coverage.

To learn more about HCD International’s health equity engagement services, visit hcdi2.creativevelocity.site/ or contact us directly at info@hcdi.com.

What is Healthy People 2030

Originating in 1979, the Healthy People initiative began when the United States Surgeon General Julius Richmond issued the “Healthy People: The Surgeon General’s Report on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention.” Led by the U.S. Health and Human Services’ Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotions, Healthy People 2030 emerged in 2020 as the fifth iteration addressing the latest public health priorities.

The mission of Healthy People 2030 is “to promote, strengthen, and evaluate the nation’s efforts to improve the health and well-being of all people” with a vision to cultivate a society where all people can achieve their full potential for health and well-being. Healthy People 2030 encompasses 359 core, measurable objectives along with developmental and research objectives, with 23 leading health indicators, to improve health outcomes over the next decade.  Objectives include baseline data from no earlier than 2015 and data is extracted three times throughout the duration of the decade. Topics covered span from health conditions to health behaviors, populations, settings and systems, and social determinants of health.

To learn more about Healthy People 2030, visit health.gov/healthypeople.

By Rachel Smith, HCDI Chief Program Officer

Having reliable transportation is essential to sustaining one’s own health and overall well-being. Identified as a critical social determinant of health barrier for vulnerable, at-risk populations, transportation impacts access to employment, social connections, education, nutritious food and healthcare services.

Did you know transportation is the leading cause of patient no-shows for medical appointments? An estimated 3.6 million people nationwide are missing or delaying medical care because they lack transportation, according to the American Hospital Association (AHA).  Missed appointments often results in escalated medical care costs, delayed care, increased emergency room utilization, and poorer health outcomes for the disadvantaged.

To support transportation access for Medicaid members, the federally funded Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) program enables health plans to contract with transportation vendors. These vendors manage fleets of subcontractors, who may also double as Lyft or Uber drivers. The goal is for these drivers to ensure Medicaid members arrive at their doctor appointments but may fall short of providing timely service back home. This can result in a formal grievance from the member, activating a performance improvement plan for various transportation contractors.

An Innovative Approach to Improve Transportation Services

HCD International offers an innovative learning approach to improve vendor performance for large fleets of drivers in managed care organizations. Through a series of learning modules, HCDI can provide health education to your transportation subcontractors in a customized virtual or live webinar format. By providing mandatory health education to drivers, it allows transportation subcontractors to fully understand their role in the whole continuum of care and help achieve improved health outcomes and Medicaid members’ well-being.

The Benefits of Reliable Transportation

When HCDI helps health plans strategize in the provision of quality transportation services, such as offering health education to vendors, Medicaid members have:

1. Increased Access to Healthcare: Lack of transportation is a significant barrier to accessing healthcare for many people, particularly those living in rural or low-income areas. Providing transportation can help overcome this barrier and improve access to healthcare services, such as regular doctor visits, check-ups, and follow-up appointments.
2. Improved Health Outcomes: Regular access to healthcare can lead to better health outcomes, such as improved management of chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. With transportation provided, Medicaid health plan members are more likely to attend their appointments and receive necessary treatments, which can result in better health outcomes.
3. Increased Preventive Care: Transportation can also encourage Medicaid health plan members to seek preventive care services like vaccinations, cancer screenings, and health education programs. Regular preventive care can help detect health problems early and prevent serious illnesses from developing.
4. Reduced Hospitalizations: When Medicaid health plan members have access to transportation, they are less likely to delay or miss important medical appointments, leading to fewer emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
5. Increased Cost Savings: By reducing emergency room visits and hospitalizations, transportation assistance can help lower healthcare costs for both the Medicaid health plan members and the healthcare system.

To learn more about HCDI’s innovative solutions for improving transportation services, visit hcdi2.creativevelocity.site/ or contact us at info@hcdi.com.