New supplemental benefit coverage may help address SDoH amongst seniors

Earlier this month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized new Medicare Advantage payment policies for 2020 that will increase competition among health plans, so patients receive higher quality care at lower costs. The changes announced by CMS will increase plan choices and benefits, allowing seniors the option to choose Medicare Advantage plans that offer supplemental benefits customized to their specific needs. Additionally, the new policies will also give chronically ill patients with Medicare Advantage plans access to a range of supplemental benefits that aren’t exactly health-related, but may improve or maintain their overall health.

April is Minority Health Month and this year’s theme is “Active and Healthy”

April is minority health month, and while minority communities continue to increase in population size, the unfortunate truth is that these groups often face significant health disparities. Research shows that health disparities among racial and ethnic groups serve as a barrier to health equity across a range of diseases.

Healthcare organizations are leveraging ICD-10 codes to identify and address SDoH

Earlier today, UnitedHealthcare and the American Medical Association (AMA) announced a new collaboration to improve the way the social determinants of health are identified and addressed to improve access to care and patient outcomes. Through the new partnership, UnitedHealthcare and the AMA aim to standardize the collection, processing and integration of SDoH data.

In 2017, the U.S. spent nearly $3.5 trillion, or 18 percent of the GDP, on health expenditures – more than double the average among developed countries. Despite paying more than triple per person on healthcare, the U.S. continues to have the lowest average lifespan in contrast to other nations.

How SDoH data can support the transition to value-based care

How SDoH data can lead to better health outcomes and cost reduction

Healthcare providers must deliver outstanding patient care to achieve positive health outcomes, but the challenge here is that even access to the best healthcare services won’t result in quality patient outcomes if social determinants of health (SDoH) is not an integral part of patient care plans.

Healthify is pleased to announce our latest white paper, “Overcoming Obstacles: Challenges and Solutions for Providers Addressing SDoH”, is now available. This white paper explores some of the central challenges providers face when addressing SDoH for their communities and high-level solutions to overcome them.

Healthify is pleased to announce the arrival of our newest white paper, “Incentivizing Collaboration Between Healthcare Organizations & Community-Based Organizations.” This white paper explores the impact of alternative payment models and how financial incentives can foster collaborative solutions between healthcare organizations (HCOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs).

Reducing health disparities between low-income and affluent communities

In the last few years, the phrase “your zip code matters more than your genetic code” has floated around the healthcare industry and with sound reasoning too. In cities across the U.S., the average life expectancy is 15-20 years shorter in low-income communities than those in more affluent communities. Rates of preventable, chronic diseases are rising sharply in low-income neighborhoods and health gaps between low-income and affluent communities continue widen. These disparities in health are founded on a complex interplay of racial, economic, educational, and other social factors. But by partnering with community-based organizations to address the social determinants of health, health plans and health systems can dramatically improve health outcomes in their communities.