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GaHIN has received a $200,000 grant from Aetna, a CVS Health® company. The grant will fund a pilot project to demonstrate the feasibility and value of a closed-loop referral service that supports social care integration between healthcare organizations and community-based organizations. In addition to the funding, Aetna will be the first adopter of the program.
“An individual’s health is deeply influenced by a range of social determinants of health (SDOH) that, in addition to medical care, include access to food, housing, transportation and more,” said Georgia-based Sonya Nelson, Division President at Aetna Medicaid. “A robust, integrated social care network that ensures patients referred for services receive the needed support is central to improving outcomes.”
Providers caring for patients in need may make referrals for social care services, but often these referrals are not acted upon. The patient may not have transportation to get to a food bank, the ability to easily make or receive calls, or the tenacity to talk with multiple departments or agencies. Closed-loop referrals alert the social service provider of the need and then confirm that the connection has been made.
“This grant will be used to accelerate the development and implementation of GaHIN’s social care integration strategy and roadmap,” said GaHIN Executive Director Dr. Denise Hines, PMP, FHIMSS. “The insights, technology and best practices developed through this grant and pilot program will lay the foundation for broader expansion across the state of Georgia. Next steps will include identifying care and services communities and using the technology to create closed-loop referral networks on a community-by-community basis.”
“GaHIN has been at the forefront of providing data interoperability among healthcare providers and we are now taking steps to expand that important role by incorporating SDOH factors and supporting closed-loop referrals,” Dr. Hines continued. “This is an exciting time, and I believe we are at the inception of a new age in healthcare that will deliver improved outcomes through the integration of medical and social care.”
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