Recent state experience suggests that states and Medicaid programs are increasingly using community health workers (CHW) to expand the health care safety net to reach underserved populations. CHWs do not provide clinical care or replace other health care providers. Instead, they complement services delivered through the more formal health care network “to provide more … [Read more...] about Community health workers: Expanding the scope of the health care delivery system
Policy
Developing lay health worker policy in South Africa: a qualitative study
Over the past half decade South Africa has been developing, implementing and redeveloping its Lay Health Worker (LHW) policies. Research during this period has highlighted challenges with LHW programme implementation. These challenges have included an increased burden of care for female LHWs. The aim of this study was to explore contemporary LHW policy development processes and … [Read more...] about Developing lay health worker policy in South Africa: a qualitative study
CHWs and other FLHW: Moving from Fragmentation to Synergy to achieve Universal Health Coverage
From the early years of primary health care, community-based health workers and volunteers (CHWs) have played a key role in satisfying the need and demand for essential health services. This article proposes that CHWs need to be supported and recognized as a pivotal part of health care. CHW programmes need be comprehensive rather than vertical and they should rely on both the … [Read more...] about CHWs and other FLHW: Moving from Fragmentation to Synergy to achieve Universal Health Coverage
Community Health Workers: Part Of The Solution
Community health workers are recognized in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as important members of the health care workforce. The evidence shows that they can help improve health care access and outcomes; strengthen health care teams; and enhance quality of life for people in poor, underserved, and diverse communities. This article traces how … [Read more...] about Community Health Workers: Part Of The Solution
Paving a Path to Advance the Community Health Worker Workforce in New York State: A New Summary and Recommendations
The New York State Community Health Worker Initiative has researched the role of community health workers (CHWs) and identified how to advance this workforce through state-level recommendations on employment and practice, training and certification, and financing. In order for CHWs to be better integrated into the health care and social service systems, the … [Read more...] about Paving a Path to Advance the Community Health Worker Workforce in New York State: A New Summary and Recommendations