COLUMBIA, MD (May 27, 2015) – The National Center for Healthy Housing was recently awarded $60,000 from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation of Battle Creek, Michigan, to expand the second year scope of a project aimed at demystifying healthcare financing for healthy homes services (http://nchh.org/tools-and-data/financing-and-funding/demystifying-healthcare-financing/).
Year one of the project, funded by the American Public Health Association (APHA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), culminated in the release of a report documenting current Medicaid reimbursement practices for environmental health services in the homes of lead-exposed children and people with asthma and highlighting opportunities for increasing access to these benefits. With continued support from APHA and CDC, NCHH planned in year two to develop up to four detailed case studies to examine possible strategies and provide valuable lessons learned in the field. The additional support from the Kellogg Foundation will allow for the development of up to six additional case studies related to home-based asthma services. This will significantly increase the diversity of strategies and provide states with more options for pursuing Medicaid financing.
“Now is the time to capitalize on the growing interest identified by our survey and equip states with strategies to expand existing healthy homes services or put new services in place,” said Amanda Reddy, Director of Programs and Impact for the National Center for Healthy Housing. “Together with partners like the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, APHA, and CDC, we can distill lessons learned in states with Medicaid reimbursement for healthy homes services to advance the development of successful policies elsewhere, effectively closing critical gaps in the delivery of recommended services, ensuring policies are translated into actual services for people who need them, and ultimately reducing costs.”
While recent changes resulting from healthcare reform have increased opportunities for states and private insurers to cover healthy homes services, many states remain unsure about how to translate these evidence-based services into policy. The developed case studies will help interested states better understand the existing landscape of healthcare financing for healthy home services and apply the knowledge to their specific situation. Specifically, the case studies will include what services are covered, whether policies are effectively being translated into services, the process used to put evidence-base programs into practice, and barriers to implementation.
To learn more about the National Center for Healthy Housing, please visit www.NCHH.org. To learn more about the project, visit http://www.nchh.org/Program/DemystifyingHealthcareFinancing.aspx.
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About the National Center for Healthy Housing
The National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) is the preeminent national nonprofit dedicated to securing healthy homes for all. Since 1992, NCHH has served as a highly regarded and credible change agent, successfully integrating healthy housing advocacy, research, and capacity building under one roof to reduce health disparities nationwide. You can follow NCHH on Twitter (@nchh) or LinkedIn or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HealthyHousing.
About the W.K. Kellogg Foundation
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal pioneer, Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life. The Kellogg Foundation is based in Battle Creek, Michigan, and works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. Special emphasis is paid to priority places where there are high concentrations of poverty and where children face significant barriers to success. WKKF priority places in the U.S. are in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, and New Orleans; and internationally, are in Mexico and Haiti. For more information, visit www.wkkf.org.