The Massachusetts Medicaid Policy Institute, a program of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, held an event exploring the strategic and operational aspects of creating effective cross-sector partnerships between community-based social service organizations and health care providers. In recognition of the importance of social determinants of health on the overall health and well-being of populations, MassHealth's Accountable Care Organization (ACO) model has incorporated explicit goals aimed at fostering coordination and integration of health-related social services. The event featured discussion to help identify best practices that may be translatable to the developing MassHealth ACOs.

This event, in collaboration with the Center for Health Care Strategies, showcased three such partnerships: 1) the Henry Ford Health System and the Ruth Ellis Center working together to provide a range of social services including meals, peer supports, and short-term housing, in addition to primary and preventive care to LGBTQ youth in Detroit, Michigan; 2) a partnership between the city of Central Falls, Rhode Island, a local community health center, Memorial Hospital, the YMCA, and the Department of Parks and Recreation aimed at creating a Neighborhood Health Station, a one-stop shop for all health needs, including related social services; and 3) a partnership between Providence Healthcare and Catholic Charities of Spokane, Washington to operate the Respite Program at the House of Charity for individulas with acute conditions who are experiencing homelessness.

On Thursday, December 8th we shared findings from a recent research project highlighting key health care priorities for the incoming Massachusetts Governor and legislative leaders.

This in-person event included the opportunity to network with friends and colleagues and learn about key health care and coverage priority issues and opportunities for the next Administration from our partners at Manatt Health. The agenda also featured a panel discussion that offered reactions on the identified priority issues and potential policy solutions, as well as an opportunity for Q&A.

This Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation event featured an important discussion on the topic of innovative approaches to investing in social services. The event highlighted findings and recommendations from the recently released report, Investing in Social Services as a Core Strategy for Healthcare Organizations: Developing the Business Case, published by KPMG and The Commonwealth Fund.

The program included panel discussions highlighting creative approaches and tools being used to facilitate partnerships between social service and health care organizations at both national and local levels.

National Speakers

• Annika Ginsberg, MPA, Director, Engagement & Collaborations, OneCity Health
• Marjorie Momplaisir-Ellis, MPH, Senior Director, Engagement & Collaborations, OneCity Health
• Tanya Shah, MBA, MPH, Assistant Vice President, Delivery System Reform, The Commonwealth Fund
• Eveline van Beek, Managing Director, Health and Human Services, KPMG LLP

Massachusetts Speakers

• Jessica Collins, MS, Executive Director, Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts
• Myechia Minter-Jordan, MD, MBA, President & Chief Executive Officer, The Dimock Center
• David Waters, Chief Executive Officer, Community Servings

Please join us on Wednesday, December 13th for an event featuring key findings from a forthcoming report focused on developing a vision and action plan for achieving a racially and ethnically equitable health care delivery system in Massachusetts. Accompanying the report we will release a “Health Equity Action Plan Toolkit,” which identifies a comprehensive set of interventions, policies, and programs from around the country that can be deployed by health system leaders and other stakeholders to achieve health equity goals.

This in person event will include a presentation by our partners at Manatt Health who will describe the vision and plan for action—collectively the “Health Equity Action Plan”—for achieving a racially and ethnically equitable health care delivery system in Massachusetts. The agenda will also feature a panel of reactors that will speak to the proposed approach to launch this action plan in Massachusetts. A formal agenda and list of speakers will be shared prior to the event.

Registration is closed.