Diane Justice National Academy for State Health Policy October 5, 2011 Advancing Health Equity through State Implementation of Health Reform Show Me..New Directions in State Health Policy: NASHP Annual Health Policy Conference

State Strategies for Advancing Health Equity through the ACA –Implement the ACA with a conscious consideration of advancing health equity –Work across state agencies –Identify policy levers that span the entirety of the ACA

Health Equity Opportunities in the ACA Simplify and Integrate Eligibility Systems – Adopt tested outreach, enrollment, and retention strategies to maximize participation of underserved populations in Medicaid and Exchanges –Increase translation and interpretation services 3

Health Equity Opportunities in the ACA Emphasize Care Coordination –Establish health homes in racial and ethnic communities targeted to people with multiple chronic conditions –Integrate delivery of behavioral and physical health for Medicaid recipients through safety net providers 4

Health Equity Opportunities in the ACA Promote Quality and Efficiency from the Health Care System –Adopt payment reforms to provide incentives for reducing disparities and improving outcomes for chronic conditions –Concentrate resources for pilot programs in racial and ethnic minority communities Improve Provider and Health Systems Capacity –Strengthen safety net providers –Enhance workforce diversity 5

Health Equity Opportunities in the ACA Be Strategic with Insurance Exchanges –Develop culturally and linguistically appropriate descriptions of health plans –Target outreach to ethnic minority communities on availability of insurance subsidies Engage the Public –Empower racial and ethnic communities to contribute to policy options –Conduct stakeholder training on health care reform 6

Health Equity Opportunities in the ACA Use Your Data –Analyze myriad new data elements mandatd for collection by the ACA –Establish provider performance measures for reducing disparities and chronic disease Pursue Population Health Goals –Apply for ACA public health grants –Expand the supply and scope of community health workers 7

Advancing Health Equity through State Implementation of Health Reform NASHP project funded by the Aetna Foundation –State Health Equity Learning Collaborative: Arkansas, Connecticut, Hawaii, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Virginia –Summit on Health Equity –Policymakers Guide to Advancing Health Equity through State Implementation of Health Reform 8