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Coordinated Care Supports Community During COVID-19

Date: 05/04/20

Coordinated Care Supports Community Needs During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Partnerships and programs help members and the community address the social determinants of health.

Seattle, WA (May 4, 2020) – During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, people across Washington are facing challenges that extend beyond medical care and include basic daily needs such as food, housing, employment, and essential supplies.

Social determinants of health are non-medical barriers to achieving quality health outcomes. They include socioeconomic and environment factors such as food accessibility, employment, education, and more. Research shows that medical care accounts for approximately 10 to 20 percent of health outcomes, while the other 80 to 90 percent is affected by the social determinants of health.

“The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are far-reaching and have extended beyond medical care to affect people’s access to food, employment, housing, and more,” said Beth Johnson, president and CEO, Coordinated Care. “These social determinants of health have a significant impact on people’s overall wellbeing, especially among vulnerable populations. Coordinated Care wants to help ensure we’re supporting the additional needs of communities during this challenging time.”

Community Support

Food Security and Hunger

Coordinated Care believes that access to quality, nutritious food is a foundational part of health and wellness. This pandemic has strained community food banks as more individuals are unemployed and school districts have met unprecedented challenges with providing meals to students. So far this year, Coordinated Care has provided support equating to 775,000 meals to several organizations that address food security, including:

  • Ten housing shelters across the state to help address the increased demand for meals.
  • Three food agencies that serve Washington food pantries and meal sites in addition to other key programs such as: (1) the expansion of mobile markets, which serve rural and low-income areas; (2) food box distribution to seniors, individuals, and families that lack transportation; and (3) “pop up” food bank sites in underserved areas.
  • Key child welfare and tribal partner organizations that address food needs among these populations.

Additionally, during the ongoing pandemic, Coordinated Care is working with the Emergency Food Network to distribute more than 6,000 bags of nutritious and non-perishable food to families in Pierce County.

Protective Equipment for Community Providers

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization has reported a disruption to the global supply of personal protective equipment. Across Washington, Coordinated Care is donating protective equipment to community providers, including frontline child welfare caseworkers at the Department of Children Youth and Families. These supplies allow workers to continue to perform their jobs in home and in the community as safely as possible.

Support for Coordinated Care Members

Connectivity

During this time of social distancing, telehealth and other communications tools have become invaluable for providing access to care. Through a partnership with SafeLink Wireless, Coordinated Care members have access to a wireless phone plan, which also provides unlimited calls and texts to Coordinated Care’s member services department. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Coordinated Care is offering members who have opted into the SafeLink program unlimited minutes through May as well as doubling their available data. For members who do not qualify for SafeLink, Coordinated Care is offering smartphones in order to keep them connected with their providers and allow them to access telehealth services.

Basic Needs and Household Supplies

To ensure community members have access to crucial supplies during this time of need, Coordinated Care is purchasing 750 gift cards for use on essential items. Coordinated Care will deliver the cards to local community organizations for distribution to members in need. The gift cards can be used to help families pay for basic necessities, including groceries, toiletries, hygiene products, and more.

Coordinated Care has also expanded support to Apple Health Core Connections (AHCC), a program designed for children in foster care, young adults who’ve aged out of foster care, or children reunified with parents. Through the AHCC Care Grant program, AHCC members can receive additional funding specifically for COVID-19-related needs such as groceries and household supplies, sports equipment for exercise and staying active, cooking equipment for eating well, or games, toys, and activities for entertaining children at home. AHCC members can receive up to $100 towards a non-covered Medicaid service or item that would benefit their overall health and wellbeing.

Coordinated Care has been supporting Washington residents since 2012 across its Apple Health (Medicaid), Apple Health Foster Care, and Ambetter from Coordinated Care health plans. Their efforts to address the social determinants of health reinforce their long-standing commitment to supporting the whole health of their communities, one person at a time.

For more information about COVID-19 and protection from the virus, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. For more information about Coordinated Care’s activities, please visit https://www.coordinatedcarehealth.com/.

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