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US Government Proposes to Integrate Healthcare Programs With Social Services

by Reshma Anand on Jan 6 2016 3:12 PM

US Government Proposes to Integrate Healthcare Programs With Social Services
People who are in Medicaid and Medicare programs find these services as a potential medical intervention. But still prevalent social issues act as a barrier for patients to receive full medical care at community-based services like hospitals, clinics and other healthcare organizations.
Common social issues like housing instability, hunger, or lack of transportation have a direct effect on health. To eliminate this barrier, the US government has planned to unite Medicare services with the social services.

The Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) along with the Department of Health and Human Services has planned a $157 million project called “Accountable Health Communities Model.”

The model focuses on identifying patients with non-medical needs and connect them with available services in their communities. The project will fund up to 44 separate experiments over five years.

"The test will assess whether systematically identifying and addressing health-related social needs can reduce health care costs and utilization. Many community service organization might be able to help patients with health-related social needs. But many clinics and hospitals aren't linked well to these organizations," said Dr. Patrick Conway, chief medical officer at CMS.

Source-Medindia


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