Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions in which people live, work, and age, and they significantly impact health outcomes. These factors, such as housing, education, and access to healthy foods, influence about 80% of health outcomes, compared to 20% influenced by medical care. Community Health Workers (CHWs), who are trusted members of their communities, play … [Read more...] about Understanding Screening and Responding to Social Determinants of Health
Working Effectively with Community Health Workers
This tool offers guidance on effectively integrating Community Health Workers (CHWs) into your team and organization. It covers key areas like developing or updating workflows, assessing community needs, identifying populations CHWs can serve, establishing CHW caseloads, documenting their activities, and ensuring effective team communication and feedback. … [Read more...] about Working Effectively with Community Health Workers
Designing an Effective Community Health Worker Program
The CHW model effectively improves community well-being by having trusted community members serve as advocates and educators. Successful programs need leadership support and should be tailored to community needs. Key steps include understanding CHW roles, hiring the right people, providing training, and planning for evaluation. This toolkit helps with team preparation, … [Read more...] about Designing an Effective Community Health Worker Program
Changes to 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for CHI Services
The 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2024, introduces Medicare payments for Community Health Integration (CHI) services provided by certified or trained community health workers (CHWs) under the supervision of a Medicare-billing practitioner. These services address social determinants of health (SDOH) that impact a patient’s treatment plan. CHWs must … [Read more...] about Changes to 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for CHI Services
Community Health Workers—Evidence of Their Effectiveness
Community Health Workers (CHWs) play a vital role in improving health by building trust and communication between patients and providers. Their deep connection to their communities allows them to address social and behavioral factors affecting health. As states look to expand CHW programs, it's important to present evidence of their effectiveness. Research over the past 50 … [Read more...] about Community Health Workers—Evidence of Their Effectiveness