Category: Digging Deeper

Learning about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Texas, formerly called ‘food stamps’, and its possible role in reducing obstacles to health and well-being is essential for our efforts to address food insecurity.

Episcopal Health Foundation (EHF) launched a partnership with key stakeholders more than six years ago to harness the capacity of MCOs in addressing non-medical needs of Medicaid members. The Learning Collaborative’s work has contributed to key legislation and policy changes that advance the NMDOH work of Medicaid MCOs to continually improve the health and well-being of their members.

EHF’s research team has released an updated and improved County Health Snapshots data mapping tool. EHF’s County Health Snapshots (CHS) tool provides a peek into the important demographic factors and health outcomes within the EDOT.

As a major health philanthropy in Texas, EHF has developed a diverse range of tools, both financial and non-financial, that help to improve the health of all Texans.

This year, EHF’s Research and Evaluation team launched “Digging Deeper,” collaborating with trusted partners to analyze the research topics and health trends that are central to EHF’s vision for a healthier Texas.

Crosscutting themes surfaced from EHF’s learning and exploration of diabetes prevention interventions. Opportunities exist to increase screening to address health disparities in prediabetes and diabetes and for Texas Medicaid to explore funding models to include the CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) as a reimbursable service with the intention to reduce diabetes among beneficiaries.

Community paramedicine models of care provide a strategy that is working across the nation to address non-medical drivers of health. There is a growing body of evidence that programs like GLOW can address needs of the community that are beyond the capacity and reach of our traditional medicine model of care.

After co-funding a national CAPGI learning and feasibility planning initiative, EHF’s Shao-Chee Sim and C.J. Eisenbarth Hager share their reflections and key takeaways.