1. Professionalizing the CHW field – what’s next?
Will Wilson | Office of Rural Health and Primary Care
May 23, 2018

2. Where is the CHW profession?

3. Emerging Professions Guide for Professionalization
Scope of Practice
Education
Regulation
Funding and Payment
Business Matters
Legal Concerns
Advocacy
Integration and Team-based Models
Data Collection and Evaluation

4. What’s been built or is underway?
Education
College Curriculum
Funding and Payment
Medicaid payment
Integration and Team-based models
CHWs working in multiple settings
Accountable Care Organizations

5. What’s on the horizon? Regulation Advocacy
No entity regulates CHWs
Advocacy
Who speaks for the profession at the Legislature?
Data Collection and Evaluation
How are CHW outcomes measured?

6. Regulation Options for Regulation of Health Professionals Licensure
Government sanctioned scope of practice, title protection, enforcement mechanism – it’s about safety
Physician, Dentist, Pharmacist
Registration
Not as strict as licensure, can be required, can be voluntary – generally, patients not at risk
Nursing Assistant, Sign Language Interpreter, Doula
Certification
Can be government, but is often a profession policing itself -- voluntarily standards developed by a profession
Emergency Medical Technician, Peer Support Specialist, Health Education Specialist
None – let the market decide

7. Regulation Potential Benefits Consistency within the profession
Improved quality from standardized best practices and continuing education
Centralized collection of data
Easier to establish payment from insurance
Title Protection
Enforcement of ethical standards and discipline of bad actors

8. Regulation Potential Drawbacks Fees Bureaucracy
Creates a barrier for entry into the market
May define the scope of practice too narrowly
May hinder the evolution of a profession
Did I mention bureaucracy?

9. Regulation Other considerations of regulation
Workforce shortages limit “turf” battles
Can be contentious
Can take years
Should have goals clearly defined
Overcommunication throughout is key for success

10. Emerging Professions Guide for Professionalization
Scope of Practice
Education
Regulation
Funding and Payment
Business Matters
Legal Concerns
Advocacy
Integration and Team-based Models
Data Collection and Evaluation

11. Thank you!
Will Wilson