Some quick Context about how we got here:
On June 30, 2023 the state received renewal approval of the 1115 Waiver. For those of you who have been following along with us, you know getting to Waiver renewal has been a lengthy process from when the state submitted its application on December 31, 2022, to receiving approval for the Special Terms and Conditions on June 30, 2023, to the next milestone of submitting funding protocols in Spring 2024. At this point, we don’t have a firm date when CMS might approve the funding protocol, but we are hopeful that funds will flow sometime in 2024.
What does Waiver 2.0 mean for our region?
One of the key elements of Waiver 2.0 is building a robust system of community-based care coordination through the region’s Accountable Communities of Health. Because BHT is comprised of partners, board, and staff members who are tenacious problem solvers, we’re starting now to build our strategy.
We will develop a network of community-based organizations to link social care and health care, invest in the community-based workforce*, and test Medicaid payment models. Our goal is to develop a sustainable way to pay for a community-based care coordination system to ensure folks have the right support to be healthy.
We know our partners have the heart to do this work, but often face capacity issues to meet all of the community's needs. To start to address this, we will develop a strategy to support the expansion of the capacity of community-based organizations to deliver community-based care coordination through a community-based workforce. And because we love a clever descriptor, we are calling this our Community of Learning.
BHT endeavors to always use data to inform our strategy. We started with voluntary Organizational Capacity Assessments for our current community-based care coordination partners, interested Community Resiliency and Community Linkages partners (two of our funding opportunities from last year), and our broader partner community to understand the current state.
*We use a community-based workforce to talk about our community workers, including doulas, peers, community health workers, and other community-serving individuals who aren’t employed by health care providers or insurance companies. *
So, What is the Community of Learning?
Our Community of Learning strategy will invest in infrastructure to support the capacity of community-based organizations to deliver services through a community-based workforce.
Assessments
BHT is currently conducting informal organizational assessments so we can find patterns in community organization capacity and how we can leverage funding to fill gaps. Partner input is essential for informing BHT’s Community of Learning initiative, and these assessments are a first step in understanding regional needs and opportunities as we leverage community expertise and Medicaid Waiver dollars to enhance our social care network.
These assessments are currently being held, and we will update this page as the process continues!
What’s next?
Stay tuned! The Community of Learning is currently under construction!
