MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS

We respectfully request that the Medical Care Advisory Committee support the efforts of the Community Health Workers in Utah and the Community Health Worker Coalition by:

"Supporting formal recognition of Community Health Workers by the Utah State Legislature as vital members of the workforce in the State of Utah".

Supporting Medicaid reimbursement for services provided by CHWs through a State Plan Amendment, 1115 Waiver Amendment, ACO contract modifications, administrative agreement with community health organizations, targeted programmatic application, and/or another mechanism deemed most appropriate by Medicaid.



According to the American Public Health Association (APHA), and as adopted in the State of Utah by the Community Health Worker Coalition, “A community health worker (CHW) is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a connector between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. A community health worker is not necessarily a clinical professional but receives training to build individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy.” 1