Hospitals and other community organizations have the opportunity to participate in a five-year program to test whether alignment between clinical and community-based services will help improve health care quality and affordability.
Through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Accountable Health Communities (AHC) Model will grant up to a total of $157 million to 44 organizations to screen for health-related social needs among all Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries at participating clinical sites. These sites will then help coordinate and connect patients screened for unmet health-related social needs, including food insecurity and unstable housing, to community-based services.
Participating collaborations will be split into three tracks featuring different approaches to alignment:
- Track 1: Increase awareness of community services through information and referral.
- Track 2: Help high-risk beneficiaries navigate access to services.
- Track 3: Encourage alignment between organizations to ensure services are available and responsive to beneficiary needs.
Interested applicants must submit a non-binding letter of intent by Feb. 8. Final applications are due March 31.
CMS will host two informational webinars to discuss the AHC Model application process:
Contact Director of Policy Erin O’Malley at eomalley@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.
