Health Plans Learn Best Practices to Advance Health Equity from Health Net's Chief Health Equity Officer
Date: 10/14/22
The annual Medicaid Health Plans of America conference brings together managed care executives from across the country, forward-thinking state and federal policymakers, and beneficiaries. Together, they discuss ways in which to collaboratively move Medicaid and managed care forward to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Dr. Pooja Mittal, Chief Health Equity Officer at Health Net, was invited to participate in a panel discussion on driving health equity. Other participants included:
- Dr. Nwando Olayiwola – Chief Health Equity Officer & Senior Vice President for Humana
- Donna Stidham – Chief of Managed Care at AIDS Healthcare Foundation
- Karen Dale – Chief Executive Officer of AmeriHealth Caritas
Dr. Mittal shared with attendees how Health Net works to advance health equity and provide more whole person care so that we can reduce disparities faced by marginalized populations. We do this through our multi-faceted approach that addresses disparities by overcoming social and structural barriers to increase access to, and improve, the quality of care for our members and underserved communities. This includes partnering with local community-based organizations, businesses, health centers and faith-based organizations.
Through these programs and partners, we can reach the most vulnerable members of the community and provide them with access to the high-quality care they deserve. Some of our recent successful outcomes with programs and partners include:
- Awarding 138 Medi-Cal providers across California $13.4 million in grants to establish or expand their digital health practice.
- Increasing post-partum care rates among Salvadorian woman in the Central Valley from 50% to 82%.
- Administering more than 22,000 vaccines to Californians in more than 70 cities statewide.
- Expanding access to physical and mental health care for students at 200 K-12 schools in 10 California counties through a $3 million grant.
However, when we are talking about improving health outcomes and reducing health disparities, there is not "one" approach or solution that will get us there. It is critical that this work is prioritized across our entire system of care, including health plans, providers, regulators, our neighborhoods and communities, hospitals and advocacy groups. The only way we can create systemic change is through working together to align around quality, population health and health equity.
To read more about Health Net's industry-leading efforts, visit our Resource Library.