9 May, 2024
Latest CHW Advocacy Efforts Happening Now: How to Get Involved!
CHW News

Community Health Workers (CHWs) play a vital role in bridging gaps in healthcare access and outcomes, particularly for underserved communities. Recent advocacy efforts have focused on recognizing their importance and ensuring adequate support for their services. Here’s a rundown of recent initiatives and how you can get involved:

Community Health Worker (CHW) Access Act

Senator Casey’s introduction of the CHW Access Act aims to ensure Medicare beneficiaries have access to the services of local CHWs without copays. According to Denise Smith, Inaugural Exectuvie Director of National Assocation of Community Health Workers, “Health education, referrals, care coordination, navigation and patient advocacy support from an authentic CHW have proven effective to address food insecurity, management of complex diseases, and connects people to social supports that improve their health status and quality of life”. The act proposes Medicare reimbursement for CHW services and an optional Medicaid benefit covering preventive and social services provided by CHWs. 1

Senator Casey believes that CHWs are uniquely suited to address some of the most pressings needs of their communities and are essential to reduce hospitalizations. 2 Other studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of CHWs being able to improve health outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and bridging gaps in health disparities and access to care. 3

 

The CHW Access Act would improve Medicare reimbursement for CHWs and Promotores and support their integration into Medicaid by:

  • Providing Medicare reimbursement for CHW and Promotores services to 1) prevent illness, reduce physical or mental disability, and restore an individual to the best possible functional level; and 2) address social needs through education and referrals to health care and community-based organizations.
  • Creating an optional Medicaid benefit, incentivized by an enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), to cover preventive services and services to address social needs furnished by CHWs and Promotores.
 

Why Advocacy Matters

Many studies have shown that CHWs are effective at improving health outcomes by providing services tailored to a communities’ needs. According to the National Library of Medicine, “CHWs have shown their effectiveness in high-priority health care issues such as managing chronic diseases, improving birth outcomes, and maintaining child wellness. CHWs can play multiple roles, including improving access and continuity of health insurance coverage and care, enhancing provider-patient communication, monitoring health status, monitoring adherence to treatment, and [connecting individuals] to health and human services.” 4

Expanding the inclusion of CHW services within Medicare and Medicaid will advance health equity through improving care coordination, culturally sensitive healthcare delivery, and strengthened connections to essential services. Interested in reading and learning more about the CHW Access Act? Explore the CHW Access Act One Pager!

Contact your Legislators

CHW Awareness Day - Texas

On April 5th, 2024, Texas recognized the contributions of CHWs with a state proclamation! This acknowledgement from Governor Greg Abott commends the dedication of CHWs to improving health outcomes in Texas. In the proclamation Abott emphasizes the impactful role of CHWs on the public health care system.

Texas CHW Awareness Day Proclamation

CHW Advocacy Day Event

Join the North Carolina Community Health Worker Association (NCCHWA) on May 15th for CHW Advocacy Day at the state capitol in Raleigh. This event provides an opportunity to educate legislators about the CHW workforce’s impact on communities and advocate for their needs.

Sign Up for CHW Advocacy Day

References:

  1. Casey Introduces Legislation to Support Community Health Workers, Improve Health Outcomes | U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania. (2024, March 7). Www.casey.senate.gov. https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-introduces-legislation-to-support-community-health-workers-improve-health-outcomes

  2. Vasan, A., Morgan, J. W., Mitra, N., Xu, C., Long, J. A., Asch, D. A., & Kangovi, S. (2020). Effects of a standardized community health worker intervention on hospitalization among disadvantaged patients with multiple chronic conditions: A pooled analysis of three clinical trials. Health Services Research, 55(S2), 894–901. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.13321

  3. ASTHO. (1994). Community Health Workers: Evidence of Their Effectiveness SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS ON CHW INTERVENTIONS Effects of CHW Interventions to Improve Chronic Disease Management and Care Among Vulnerable Populations CHW Interventions to Improve Glycemic Control in People with Diabetes: Findings from 13 Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs). https://www.astho.org/globalassets/pdf/community-health-workers-summary-evidence.pdf

  4. Balcazar, H., Lee Rosenthal, E., Nell Brownstein, J., Rush, C. H., Matos, S., & Hernandez, L. (2011). Community Health Workers Can Be a Public Health Force for Change in the United States: Three Actions for a New Paradigm. American Journal of Public Health, 101(12), 2199–2203. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2011.300386