In states that expanded Medicaid, many people experiencing homelessness became eligible for health insurance, often enrolling in a Medicaid plan offered through a managed care organization (MCO). This development means that there are new opportunities for managed care plans and health care providers to work together to improve health outcomes in a patient population that tends to have intensive needs and high service utilization.
Together with a new policy brief, this webinar will offer homeless health care providers an overview of managed care, as well as familiarize MCO plans with the needs of people who are homeless and the model of care employed by Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) projects.
The discussion will focus on how both groups can better achieve common goals through strong partnerships and open communication. Leaders from two HCH projects and an MCO plan in Washington State will describe their work surrounding medical respite* services, how their collaborations originated, and early lessons from their journey to improve outcomes.
Join us for a discussion intended to establish a more common understanding between insurers and providers—two key stakeholder groups directly involved in the provision of health care for people experiencing homelessness.
Panelists:
- Catherine Anderson, Vice President, Positioning and Strategy, UnitedHealthcare Community & State
- Barbara DiPietro, Senior Director of Policy, National HCH Council
- Doug Bowes, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Washington
- Edward Dwyer-O’Connor, BS, RN, Senior Manager, Downtown Programs, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA
- Matt Lund, Director of Contracting, UW Medicine at Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA
- Rhonda Hauff, COO/Deputy CEO, Yakima Neighborhood Health, Yakima, WA
Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the factors influencing Medicaid-managed care plans, their approach to serving people experiencing homelessness, and how they are seeking opportunities to partner with providers serving the population.
2. Understand how the HCH Community can maximize common goals with managed care plans.
3. Describe how two HCH projects in Washington State (one urban and one rural) are partnering with a managed care plan for medical respite services.
* Medical Respite Care
Medical respite care is acute and post-acute medical care for persons experiencing homelessness who are too ill or frail to recover from a physical illness or injury on the streets but not ill enough to remain in a hospital. Unlike “respite” for caregivers, “medical respite” is short-term residential care that allows individuals without homes the opportunity to rest in a safe environment while accessing medical care and other supportive services. Medical respite care is offered in a variety of settings including freestanding facilities, homeless shelters, nursing homes, and transitional housing. More information on medical respite.
