Grants from Acumen America brings food, rent, and utilities assistance to Kansas City and Topeka

REUTERS / Mike Blake - stock.adobe.com

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown a light on the critical role of social supports and services. Since the onset of the outbreak, many families have experienced job losses and face difficulties with food and housing. To help provide relief and support, Healthify recently announced the distribution of grants to several community-based organizations (CBOs) to address food and housing insecurity in Kansas City and Topeka, Kansas.

Download the case study to learn how Reading Hospital partnered with Healthify to address SDoH

As payors and providers continue to develop programs to address the social determinants of health (SDoH) to improve health outcomes, many organizations are beginning to see the ROI associated with whole-person care. One of those organizations is Reading Hospital.

Blue KC and Healthify discuss how innovations in SDoH will evolve in the wake of COVID-19

After weeks of shelter-in-place mandates, states are beginning to open back up. However, the impacts stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic are here to stay for the foreseeable future. Local food pantries and social services are already noticing an increase in service demands. As the unemployment rate rises, we can only expect an increased demand for social support networks. With many CBOs already strapped for funding and facing limited capacity, addressing social determinants of health (SDoH) will be a continued challenge.

These big-picture trends may play a role in shaping SDoH strategies in 2020

As COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly, preliminary data shows that low-income Americans are much more susceptible to catching — and dying from — the virus. It's a powerful reminder that social determinants of health (SDoH) are critical drivers of overall health outcomes.

Flexibility in MA supplemental benefits can move the needle on outcomes

The coronavirus outbreak first suspended — then upended — ordinary life for most Americans. Now, with the explosion of COVID-19 cases across the country, broader health and safety concerns around the epidemic are hitting close to home. The recently enacted coronavirus emergency supplemental legislation, which includes enhanced telehealth coverage for Medicare beneficiaries, will then be welcome news.

Viral diseases can be detrimental to communities already struggling 

As COVID-19 continues to dramatically transform daily life for most Americans, health disparities are glaringly coming into view, further confirming the link between social determinants of health (SDoH) and health outcomes.

Scaling Our Mission

Since 2014 we’ve had the great honor and privilege of connecting families to social services across the country and building the foundation of the emerging social determinants of health space. 

Now in 2020, the opportunity we have ahead of us is larger than it has ever been. We have a phenomenal team, capital to support growth, and an industry that is not only recognizing the importance of social needs but is also expanding rapidly to align to our vision of accountable networks of social services. 

Legacy Challenges and Innovative Solutions

This resource examines the effect of unaddressed social needs on health plans, the challenges associated with implementing interventions, and how health plans can develop proactive strategies to overcome those challenges.

Community health through collective impact

How can a community come together to achieve collective impact and sustained change? What do local organizations need to participate in multi-sectoral partnerships? We set out to answer those questions during the inaugural Gen-H Innovation Series last month. In collaboration with Healthify, the day-long session prompted conversations about: 

1. Eliminating barriers between the different stakeholders in the community to achieve collective impact
2. The needs of various stakeholders in the community to participate in collective impact initiatives
3. And maximizing capacity and sustainability through partnerships with funders

The latest funding marks a pivotal point in the movement toward value-based care 

Healthify, the leading company integrating the social determinants of health (SDoH) in the era of value-based healthcare, has raised $16 million in a Series B financing round led by SV Health Investors and existing investors like BlueCross BlueShield Venture Partners (BCBSVP). The latest round of funding provides strategic capital to fuel the company’s rapid growth as it continues to bring healthcare and social service organizations together in accountable networks. To date, Healthify has raised over $28 million through investments, grants, and awards.