State Models
- Michigan Medicaid Addresses Social Determinants of Oral Health through Dental and Medical Contracts, January 2021. Inequities in dental care are prevalent across the United States, with oral health outcomes largely influenced by social determinants of health (SDOH), such as food insecurity and socioeconomic status. In response, Michigan’s Medicaid managed care contracts now require medical and dental plans to address SDOH among enrollees.
- How New York Is Safeguarding Pregnant Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic, November 2020. Months into the COVID-19 pandemic, studies show pregnant women – especially women of color – are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant individuals. New York’s COVID-19 Maternity Task Force and its Department of Health have implemented policies and programs to improve women’s outcomes and address disparities during the pandemic.
- NASHP Roundtable: Georgia and Illinois Work to Improve Maternal Health Outcomes, November 2020. In partnership with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, NASHP convened state officials to discuss initiatives to improve maternal health outcomes for Medicaid enrollees and address racial disparities. Illinois and Georgia officials highlighted their strategies, including extending Medicaid postpartum coverage for women beyond the current 60-day period.
- States Guide the Governance of Accountable Health Entities to Promote Community Health and Engagement, April 2019. This NASHP blog examines strategies for governing accountable health models to improve population health and health equity while addressing community and state priorities.
- Oregon’s Accountable Health Model Addresses Health Equity and Health-Related Needs: Four Lessons from CCO 2.0, March 2019. This NASHP blog describes Oregon’s strategy for addressing health-related needs and health equity through its Coordinated Care Organizations’ contracts.
- How Supported Employment Can Address Mental Health Inequities in Minority Populations: Five States’ Experiences, December 2018. This issue brief examines state supported employment programs and implications for addressing health disparities in mental illness.
- NASHP Identifies State Strategies to Address Mental Health and Education Inequities, November 2017. This blog describes interviews with state health officials on the impact of various interventions and their effort to reduce mental health disparities.
- Addressing Inequities through Innovations in Oral Health Policy, January 2017. This blog addresses disparities in oral health and various state initiatives to increase effective, equitable systems of care.
- Moving the Needle on Health Outcomes: State Strategies for Advancing Health Equity, December 2016. This blog describes three approaches to addressing health equity through state policy.
- In the Zone: State Strategies to Advance Health Equity by Investing in Community Health, June 2016. This chart compares goals, methods funding sources, and governing structures of initiatives in four states developed to address health equity and population health.
- State Policymakers’ Guide for Advancing Health Equity through Health Reform Implementation: Summary, August 2012. This issue brief outlines various state policy levers to advance health equity as well as opportunities for state and federal collaboration on these efforts.
- Using Report Cards to Measure Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities: State Experience, September 2011. This issue brief focuses on New Mexico’s efforts to measure racial and ethnic health disparities through “report cards.”
- Using Geographic Information to Target Health Disparities: State Experience, September 2011. This issue brief outlines Rhode Island and Virginia’s data collection techniques and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to track race and ethnicity data and reduce disparities.
- Assessing the Costs of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities: State Experience, June 2011. This issue brief describes the strategies and resources Virginia and Rhode Island used to measure the costs of health disparities on their populations.
- State Documentation of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities to Inform Strategic Action, March 2011. This report summarizes how states analyze data in strategic plans and reports aimed at reducing racial and ethnic disparities in health status and health care.
- Federal State Discourse to Promote a High-Performance Health System. These slides offer background information, financing strategies, and state models for promoting health equity through delivery system reform.
- Q&A: How Rhode Island Tackles Social Determinants of Health through its Accountable Entity Model, November 2018. This blog describes Rhode Island’s Accountable Entity (AE) Program, designed to encourage Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) and providers to deliver more cost-effective care through value-based payments, improve coordinated care delivery, and focus on population health.
- How States Address Social Determinants of Health in their Medicaid Contracts and Contract Guidance Documents, August 2018. This chart examines Medicaid contracts and contract guidance documents in 11 states to highlight each state’s efforts to address social determinants of health, such as housing and employment.
- The Roadmap Ahead: New York’s Value-Based Payments Reward Communities and Providers for Addressing the Social Determinants of Health, June 2018. This blog describes how New York rewards Medicaid providers and community-based organizations for addressing social and economic impacts on health.
- States Develop New Approaches to Improve Population Health Through Accountable Health Models, January 2018. This issue brief highlights policy levers, performance measurement strategies, and sustainable financing options that ten states use to support accountable health structures to promote population health and increase health equity.
- Community Health Worker Resources for States, November 2017. NASHP compiled a list of resources that support state efforts in incorporating community health workers into their health and health equity improvement work
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
