Importance of CHWs:

• Demand for CHW's is strong and will increase as diversity increases in the population.
• CHW's are widely used and effective in Minnesota.
• Minnesota estimates that the return on investment (program cost vs. overall reduced cost of care) is at a ratio of 1.14:1.
• Seventy-five (75) new CHW jobs have been created since 2006 in Minnesota.
• In Minnesota, CHW's that have received their certificate are reimbursable under Medicaid.
• By employing CHW's, NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center increased their patient population by 67%.
• CHW's not only serve diverse populations but are now also serving the deaf, aging, and disabled populations in Minnesota.

Cost Effectiveness Studies:

• The Effectiveness of a Community Health Worker Outreach Program on Healthcare Utilization of West Baltimore City Medicaid Patients with Diabetes, with or without Hypertension: shows that a CHW intervention program resulted in average savings of $2,245.00 per patient, and a total savings of $262,080.00 for 117 patients, along with improved quality of life.  See abstract.
• Measuring Return on Investment of Outreach by Community Health Workers: A Denver Health Study of 590 men in a CHW case management intervention shows increased use of primary and specialty care, and reduced use of urgent care, in-patient, and out-patient behavioral health care use.  The return on investment (program costs vs. overall reduced costs of care) was 2.28:1. See abstract.
• A Community-Based Asthma Management Program: Effects on Resource Utilization and Quality of Life: A CHW asthma intervention in Hawaii shows a decline in emergency room visits and increased quality of life.  In one phase of the study, asthma-related per capita charges decreased from $735.00 to $181.00.  See abstract. 

The Community Health Worker Employer Forum

The Community Health Worker Employer Forum Contacts

For More information and to link to the full reports click below.

Enrollment Forms to Enroll CHWs for Medicaid Reimbursement

Blue Cross Blue Shield Critical Links Study

Community Health Worker Minneapolis-St. Paul Work Force Analysis Study

Community Health Worker Rochester Work Force Analysis Study

Community Health Worker Southern Minnesota Workforce Analysis Study

List of Minnesota organizations that employ CHWs

Bibliography of CHW studies and resources

National Fund for Medical Education,UCSF Center for the Health Professions Financing Reports:

A grant funded by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation to the National Fund for Medical Education, which is administered at the University of California, San Francisco, Center for The Health Professions, just released two newly published reports on several sustainable financing models for Community Health Workers.  It also provides an overview of issues related to funding including current status of CHW outcomes research, cost-effectiveness research and efforts to standardize educational curricula.  The first report focuses on national programs and the second report supplements the main report by highlighting CHW financing issues in Minnesota.

The main report, Advancing Community Health Worker Practice and Utilization: The Focus on Financing is national in scope.

Funding CHW Programs and Services in Minnesota: Looking to the Future

Both Reports can be accessed through the publications page at the UCSF Center for the Health Professions:  http://futurehealth.ucsf.edu/publications/index.html

 

Additional information on the Minnesota Community Health Worker Project:

• Click here for the outline of the Minnesota CHW Curriculum
  
  
• How you can be involved
  
  
• Funding and Community Partners
  
  
• CHW Peer Group Networking