SameSky Health

Under the Same Sky: Our monthly conversation with healthcare industry leaders about health equity and improving access to care. Today, our host Abner Mason speaks with Mark Savage, JD, Managing Director of Savage & Savage LLC.

COMING IN TWO WEEKS! Join us for the next episode of our series on the advancement of health equity and improving access to care, Under the Same Sky! On Thursday, August 8, at 2:00 PM Eastern, our own Abner Mason welcomes Dr. David Michaels for a conversation on equity in advancing workplace safety, health, and sustainability. For more information, visit: https://sames.ky/3zW34I8

At SameSky Health and GroundGame Health, we've learned that healthcare is not always equitable because of unaddressed health-related social needs that serve as barriers to achieving positive health outcomes, and we work tirelessly with our health plan and community-based partners to remove these barriers for members. But addressing SDOH needs can take many forms, and the city of Boston is taking some important steps to through its new #healthequity initiative. The groundbreaking $10 million initiative, supported by the Atrius Health Equity Foundation in partnership with the Boston Community Health Collaborative, aims to improve life expectancy and financial resilience in neighborhoods with poor outcomes across three leading causes of premature mortality. Organizations will collaborate to help at-risk residents meet basic needs, access financial support, and navigate complex healthcare and social support systems. This holistic approach addresses critical social determinants of health, including healthcare access, nutritious food, safe housing, and educational opportunities. We all have a vested interest in creating healthier, more resilient communities where everyone can lead healthy lives. We are eager to see the impact this transformative impact will bring! Read more At the Boston Herald: https://sames.ky/46aNTH9 #sdoh #hrsn

Addressing the health-related social needs (HRSNs) of individuals is something we work passionately toward every day, engaging with health plan members, building trust, and identifying needs that we can then help solve. In a recent Forbes article, a contributing writer outlines eleven ways to move the needle on HRSNs, many of which are among the activities we undertake on behalf of our health plan partners. These include helping members find and arrange transportation for healthcare needs like attending doctor's appointments; addressing food insecurity through connections to local resources; and, building partnerships with community-based organizations that enable health plans and local resources to work together effectively — then making sure that members received the help they needed. Read the article https://sames.ky/4f8wtiw #healthequity #sdoh #hrsn

"Racial and ethnic inequities in health and health care impact individual well-being, contribute to millions of premature deaths, and cost the United States hundreds of billions of dollars annually." This statement is the somber opening of an overview from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) to introduce the organization's new report, "Ending Unequal Treatment: Strategies to Achieve Equitable Health Care and Optimal Health for All." In 2003, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report titled, "Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care." As a successor of the IOM, NASEM has now revisited this original report some two decades later, finding that substantial work remains. You can read the new report online, or download a PDF copy, from the NASEM website here: https://sames.ky/4bLE4Ay

And that's a wrap! This year's USAging Conference & Tradeshow has wrapped-up today, and we thank everyone who visited us in the past few days! We loved engaging with you and valued our discussions. You made it a fantastic event! And we look forward to continuing the conversation on transforming healthcare together! Pictured: Abner Mason, our Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, and the panel at the Hot Topic Session yesterday, as he explored the subject of network contracting. We hope you were able to catch the presentation!

In our latest episode of Under the Same Sky, we uncover the #impact of electronic health information technology on #healthequity with Abner Mason and Mark Savage, JD. Their discussion on integrating #SDOH data and bridging #clinical and social care is as fascinating as Mark's journey from civil rights litigation to #healthcare policy. Listen in for an inspiring conversation or read our latest blog! More information on this episode: https://sames.ky/4f2lvev More information on the series: https://sames.ky/4f2lw23

We're proud to be among the Program Partners of the 49th Annual USAging Conference & Tradeshow, underway in Tampa. If you're attending, come see us at Booth #506/407, and learn all about how we manage the complex relationships needed to fulfill unmet social and care needs of people across the country! #usaging #sdoh

Calling all USAging Conference attendees! Don't miss Abner Mason, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer of https://sames.ky/4eRra6V, at his Hot Topic Session as he explores the ins and outs of network contracting. If you are looking to expand your reach, you are bound to gain valuable insights into navigating network partnerships and optimizing healthcare contracting strategies at this session. Join us for a dynamic discussion! Session Title: Contracting in a Network: Opportunity, Benefits & What to Expect Date: July 9 | Time: 3:45 – 4:45 pm EST #usaging

Attending the USAging Conference in Tampa? Meet our team at Booth #506/407 during the conference, and learn what https://sames.ky/3WdmYHo is doing to manage the complex connections between health plans, providers, and Community-Based Organizations to fulfill unmet social and care needs for people everywhere!