Many of us have heard the grim statistics about U.S. health care from a global perspective. Compared to other high-income countries, the United States spends a significantly higher percentage of its gross domestic product (GDP, which measures a country’s total production of goods). However, we have the lowest life expectancy at birth, the highest death rate from avoidable or treatable diseases, the highest maternal and infant mortality rates, and one of the highest suicide rates. This discrepancy—spending more for bad outcomes—has been going on for decades.
There are myriad forces and factors that drive and perpetuate this alarming reality. These include the devastating effects of poverty and how people, especially those from historically underrepresented and marginalized communities, have access to critical services that can dramatically improve and save lives. This includes what is hindering you.
Having a safe, stable home and consistent access to nutritious food is fundamental to a person’s ability to maintain well-being and health. However, many individuals across the country and in Colorado lack these basic necessities, and the entities they rely on for assistance, such as Medicaid health plans and community-based organizations, do not have access to these services. There is often a lack of sustainable funding to provide this. Colorado now has an opportunity to integrate food and shelter into health care, leading to improved health outcomes, lower health care costs, and prevention of homelessness.
A bipartisan bill this Congress (House Bill 24-1322) would allow the Department of Health Care Policy and Finance to consider how to provide certain housing and nutrition services within Medicaid and provide federal protection to do so through Section 1115 waivers. It will be possible to seek government approval. These waivers allow states to experiment with new approaches to Medicaid, and some states, including Arizona, North Carolina, and Oregon, are already taking advantage of this transformational opportunity to provide services such as housing assistance and meal delivery. Receives federal approval for housing and nutrition services coverage. For those with the greatest need. Traditionally, we don’t think of food and shelter as part of health care, but there is growing evidence that they are important components of our overall health.
As the state’s largest Medicaid health plan, Colorado Access serves approximately 500,000 members across Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) and Children’s Health Plans. plus (CHP+). Addressing the social determinants of health, such as housing and nutrition, presents a moment of change and opportunity for Medicaid.
In Denver County, the Colorado Health Access Study found that 35% of Medicaid enrollees reported that they or their dependents ate less than they expected in the past year because they couldn’t afford food. In Douglas, Adams, and Arapahoe counties, 36% of people on Medicaid are concerned that they won’t be able to afford stable housing in the next two months and have struggled to make rent or mortgage payments in the past year. Reported that there was a problem.
A strong body of research, including an analysis of Colorado’s program, shows the benefits of addressing social needs, including less time in the emergency room, lower health care costs, and reduced criminal justice involvement. . Our experience serving Medicaid members here in Colorado for nearly 30 years bears this out.
Medicaid only reduces future costs and saves taxpayers money by helping with housing and food for eligible people, such as members experiencing homelessness or those who are pregnant or postpartum. , and brings more federal money to our state than any other state. Already accessed.
Medicaid could pay for six months of rent assistance and temporary housing, especially as the number of people experiencing homelessness in Colorado continues to rise. Medicaid may also cover a variety of other services, such as pre-movement and move-in support services, home improvements, and supplies to maintain healthy temperatures and clean air during extreme weather events.
In addition to housing assistance, Medicaid can pay to address food insecurity through nutritional counseling and education, meal delivery, prescribing medically tailored meals, and connecting with community-based food resources.
We must take advantage of the opportunities this legislation provides for Medicaid, and we appreciate the support of lawmakers, advocates, and the government. By addressing the social determinants of health, such as housing and nutrition, we are creating new and meaningful solutions to improve the overall health and well-being of our communities and redefine healthcare to support the whole person. You can get the opportunity.
Annie Lee is president and CEO of Colorado Access. Prior to joining Access Colorado in 2022, he held leadership positions at Children’s Hospital Colorado and Kaiser Permanente Colorado. Prior to that, Annie worked at the Colorado Department of Health Policy and Finance where she worked on benefits policy for both CHP+ and Medicaid.
