Transcript HEALTH ENTERPRISE ZONES: Western Maryland September 25, 2012 Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Community Health Resources Commission.

HEALTH ENTERPRISE
ZONES:
Western Maryland
September 25, 2012
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Community Health Resources Commission
Maryland Health Improvement and
Disparities Reduction Act
• The Act emanated from the Maryland Health Quality and
Cost Council’s Health Disparities Work Group, established
by Lt. Governor Brown and led by Dean E. Albert Reece of
the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
• The Act was the first bill signed into law by the Governor on
April 10, 2012 and its implementation is under the
leadership of Lt. Governor Brown.
• The FY 2013 budget provides $4 million in new funding to
the Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC) to
fund Health Enterprise Zones (HEZ). It is anticipated that
this funding will support two to four zones.
• The Administration appreciates the support of the Maryland
General Assembly in approving the Act.
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Maryland Health Improvement and
Disparities Reduction Act
• The analysis of the Health Disparities Work Group
focused on ways to address the root causes of
health disparities, as evidenced by higher rates of
diseases and illnesses such as:
– Asthma
– Diabetes
– Hypertension
– Other ambulatory care sensitive conditions
• The Work Group developed bold recommendations
that include the creation of HEZ to saturate
underserved communities with primary care
providers and other essential health care services.
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Main Components of the Act
• Health Enterprise Zones (HEZ)
• Promoting Cultural Competency
• Encouraging Reporting and
Analysis of Health Disparities
Data
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Health Enterprise Zones
• The purpose of establishing HEZs is to
target State resources to:
– Reduce health disparities among racial and
ethnic groups and geographic areas;
– Improve health care access and health
outcomes in underserved communities; and
– Reduce health care costs and hospital
admissions/re-admissions.
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Health Enterprise Zones
• Each HEZ will be a contiguous geographic
area;
• Must have documented evidence of health
disparities, economic disadvantage and poor
health outcomes; and
• Small enough to allow incentives to have a
significant impact but large enough to track
data (population of at least 5,000).
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Eligible HEZ Applicants
• Non-profit community-based organizations and local
government agencies will be eligible to submit an
application for HEZ designation on behalf of an area
or community.
• The state is encouraging HEZ applications to reflect
inclusion, community participation, collaboration, and
support the priorities identified in the Local Health
Improvement Process.
• The application for HEZ designation will be a
combination of both demonstrated need and
intervention strategies to improve health outcomes in
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the potential Zone.
Health Care Practitioners Eligible
to Receive HEZ Incentives
• In order to receive incentives/benefits, health care
practitioners must provide services in the HEZ, be
licensed/certified, and provide health care in one of
the following areas:
– Primary care, including OB/GYN, pediatric and
geriatric services;
– Behavioral health, including mental health and
alcohol and substance use services; or
– Dental services.
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Eligibility Criteria and Data
• Based on these criteria DHMH developed dynamic
maps with data at the zip-code level.
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Eligibility Criteria and Data
(1) An HEZ must be a community, or a contiguous cluster of
communities, defined by zip code boundaries (one or
multiple zip codes).
(2) An HEZ must have a resident population of at least 5,000
people.
(3) An HEZ must demonstrate economic disadvantage:
– Medicaid enrollment rate; or
– WIC participation rate.
(4) An HEZ must demonstrate poor health outcomes:
– A lower life expectancy; or
– Percentage of low birth weight infants.
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HEZ Implementation
• An internal steering committee led by Secretary
Sharfstein, comprised of DHMH, Lt. Governor and
CHRC staff, has been established to guide
implementation of the HEZs. Assistance has been
provided by the Health Disparities Collaborative.
• There will be three stages in the process to implement
HEZs:
– Public Comment (June 15 - July 20, 2012)
– HEZ Selection Process (September – December 2012)
– Implementation & Evaluation Phase (December 2012 –
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beyond)
Public Comment & Public Forums
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Feedback was requested on the following:
(1) Eligibility Criteria and Data;
(2) Proposed Principles for the Review of Applications for HEZs;
(3) Potential Incentives and Benefits for the HEZ.
Public comment on these three areas closed on July
20 and was included in a Joint Chairmen’s Report
submitted in mid-August.
Public forums held around the state:
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Southern Maryland, Wednesday, July 11
Baltimore City, Thursday, July 19
Montgomery County, Thursday, July 26
Prince George’s County, August 2
Eastern Shore, September 13
Western Maryland, September 25
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HEZ Call for Proposals
• The public comments received earlier this summer
were summarized in a Joint Chairmen’s Report
(JCR) submitted to the legislature in mid-August.
• Following the 45-day legislative review, the CHRC
will issue a Call for Proposals in early October.
• The CHRC and DHMH will host a public conference
call in early October, several days after the Call for
Proposals is released. Applicants will be given the
opportunity to ask questions about the HEZ
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application process.
Incentives and Benefits of
HEZ Designation
• Grant funding to implement the actions outlined in the
HEZ application to improve health outcomes and reduce
health disparities.
• Specific incentives for individual practitioners or practices
that provide primary care, behavioral health services, or
dental services in an HEZ:
– State income and hiring tax credits;
– Grant funding from the CHRC;
– Loan repayment assistance;
– Priority to enter the Patient Centered Medical Home;
– Priority for electronic health records funding; and
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– Grants for capital improvements and medical/dental equipment.
HEZ Selection Principles
1. Purpose
8. Contributions from local
partners
2. Description of need
9. Coalition
3. Core disease targets
10. Work-plan
4. Goals
5. Strategies
11. Program management
and guidance
12. Sustainability
6. Cultural, linguistic and
health literacy
13. Internal evaluation and
competence
progress monitoring
7. Balance
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For more information:
http://dhmh.maryland.gov/healthenterprisezones/SitePages/Home.
aspx
Send questions to:
[email protected]
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