1. State Community Health Worker Legislation
Current Practices Across the United States

3. NCSL
“Incorporating Community Health workers into State Health Care Systems: options for Policymakers”
August 2015
Page 6

4. State Community Health Worker Legislative Action and Policy Considerations

5. Community Health Worker Regulation
Professional Title Authorization or Credentialing
Defined Scope of Practice
Establish Core Credentials for Education
Standards of Practice
Authorized Reimbursement

6. Ohio Revised Code
Certification of community health workers program.
Community health worker certificate.
Application for certificate.
Eligibility for certificate.
Review and renewal of application.
Denial, revocation or suspension of certificate.
Community health worker training programs.
Community health worker standards and procedures.

7. Ohio Administrative Code
Definition of terms.
Community health worker certification.
[Rescinded] Procedures for obtaining a certificate to practice as a community health worker by endorsement.
Renewal of community health worker certificate.
Continuing education requirements.
Nurse delegation to community health workers.
Prohibitions on delegation.
Criteria and standards for a registered nurse delegating to a community health worker.
Supervision of the performance of a nursing task performed by a community health worker.
Standards of safe care provided by the community health worker.
Disciplinary actions against certified community health workers; investigations.
Standards for community health worker training programs.
Standard curriculum for community health worker training programs.
Procedures for obtaining approval or reapproval of community health worker training programs.

8. Workforce Development
Establish state-level standards for education and training
Encourage the development of training programs in various state agencies
Require specific education and training for specific jobs
Encourage CHW training to be part of health care teams
Allocate funding authorization for CHW workforce development

9. CHWs’ Effect on Quality and Cost
Potential to improve quality and control or decrease cost
Role of CHW aligns with goals of community care teams, primary care providers and patient-centered medical homes
Strengthen understanding of community health needs
Enhanced cultural competence and improved communication between providers and patients

10. Financing Mechanisms
Reimbursement considerations often begin with establishing credentialing
Encourage supportive state Medicaid payment options
Consider state and federal grants (establish pilot programs)
Work with managed care organizations and private payers on reimbursement models
Add CHWs to health care teams focused on integrated and patient-centered care
Support data collection and research on cost benefits (limited cost savings research to date)

11. State Community Health Worker Program Examples

12. Oregon
Patient Centered Medical Home Program covers services provided by certified CHWs
Key Funding—Medicaid State Plan Amendment
Example of CHW Services—Ensure patients regularly see their health care provider and receive chronic disease management (e.g., home visits to manage asthma treatment)

13. Kentucky Kentucky Homeplace, established in 1994
Employs CHWs in underserved and rural communities
Housed within the University of Kentucky (UK) Center for Excellence in Rural Health
Key Funding—Kentucky Department for Public Health contracts with UK Center for Rural Health (GRF funding)
Helps patients access health resources, including food, eyeglasses and dentures

14. South Carolina
South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ (SCDHHS) Health Access at the Right Time (HeART) initiative
Includes CHWs in primary care practices as community liaisons
Key Funding—Eligible primary care physician practices receive a grant from the SCDHHS
Two billing codes available for CHW services

15. Sustainable Financing Post 2016 Election
What is the future of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)?
How will ACA changes effect health policy on the state and federal level?
What is the future of CHWs and program funding?

16. Resources

17. Contact Information
Tom Dilling Legislative Liaison/Adjudication Coordinator Ohio Board of Nursing 17 S. High St., Suite 400 Columbus, OH Tel: (614) Fax: (614)