community organization

SCAN Group has been developing innovative methods to address healthcare access issues for the most vulnerable groups in the communities they serve. Their Togetherness Callers program helps match senior members of the health plan with an employee for weekly calls—a strategy to reduce isolation among our older citizens, which was particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have launched a Medicare Advantage plan (in partnership) aimed at LGBTQ+ seniors that includes lower co-payments for specialty drugs such as HIV treatments.

Then there is Healthcare in Action (HIA), which provides both medical and social services to unhoused (not homeless!) individuals across communities in CA. HIA’s mobile medical units reach their target population where they are, with the intention of providing access while building trust and providing assistance beyond medical needs, including housing and food. Despite being in the high-risk business of providing care to this population—many of whom have chronic conditions and are often uninsured—HIA has seen success. One reason for this could be because they are operating in a state that heads the homelessness leaderboard in the country, and state and local authorities have struggled to tackle the situation, especially ER visits and hospitalizations (which end up being covered by the state) among this population. HIA has been tapping into the state’s Medicaid program (CalAIM) and also has contracts with cities and health plans to provide their services.

This is a brilliant model that provides social and medical support to some of the most vulnerable populations while reducing unnecessary ER admissions and earning $s! But can this be replicated? And who would constitute ideal business/referral partners: social organizations, soup kitchens, shelters, health plans?