Transforming the delivery of care in the post-health reform era: what role will community health workers play?
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) affords opportunities to sustain the role of community health workers (CHWs). Among myriad strategies encouraged by PPACA are prevention and care coordination, particularly for chronic diseases, chief drivers of increased health care costs. Prevention and care coordination are functions that have been performed by CHWs for decades, particularly among underserved populations. The two key delivery models promoted in the PPACA are accountable care organizations and health homes. Both stress the importance of interdisciplinary, interprofessional health care teams, the ideal context for integrating CHWs. Equally important, the payment structures encouraged by PPACA to support these delivery models offer the vehicles to sustain the role of these valued workers.
New York State Health Foundation, NY 10018, USA. martinez@nyshealth.org
Jacqueline
J
Martinez
Marguerite
M
Ro
Normandy William
NW
Villa
Wayne
W
Powell
James R
JR
Knickman
D060866:Accountable Care Organizations; D002204:Capitation Fee; D003150:Community Health Workers / Q000191:economics; D017046:Cost Savings; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics; D017050:Episode of Care; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team; D058991:Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D012052:Reimbursement, Incentive; D014481:United States