Policy and Practice February 2017

and public health principles. Human services agencies are responsible for determining Medicaid eligibility and, in some states, work directly with the Medicaid office to determine services covered under contracts with health care providers. Public health can also engage human services professionals to address health disparities. Abundant evidence points to the social determinants of health as foundational elements that influence a person’s ability to achieve optimal health. ASTHO has leveraged national initiatives and the concept of Health in All Policies to promote a culture of health and safety by urging policymakers to consider and integrate social determinants into the policy process. The 2016 ASTHO President’s Challenge, 1 “Advancing Health Equity and Optimal Health for All,” encour- aged states to adopt a Triple Aim for

and learn from each other’s successes and setbacks in engaging communities and improving health outcomes. ASTHO, with funding from the de Beaumont Foundation, is promoting collaboration between Medicaid and public health agencies to achieve the Triple Aim of better care, reduced costs, and improved population health outcomes. This project con- tributes to the goals of the Triple Aim by identifying specific opportuni- ties, challenges, and solutions for promoting increased collaboration between Medicaid and public health leaders. ASTHO published several case studies about innovative, inter- agency partnerships in Colorado, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Texas, and Vermont to illustrate how states can facilitate col- laboration across agencies by fostering a basic understanding of Medicaid

health equity through a variety of actions, including policy develop- ment, cross-sector collaboration, and program implementation. Many states are convening leaders from public health and human services agencies to set policy standards requiring health care systems to be active partners in developing care management programs to improve health outcomes for people experiencing housing instability, unemployment, domestic violence, and other hardships. As states seek to transform their health systems using models established by the Affordable Care Act, such as the state innovation models initiative, 2 human services agencies responsible for housing assistance programs must become integral partners with health care and public health agencies.

See Alliances on page 31

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