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February 2017
Policy&Practice
23
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
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
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