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Children’s Hospital Boston Community Asthma Initiative: Partnerships and Outcomes Advance Policy Change
- Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action
- Johns Hopkins University Press
- Volume 5, Issue 3, Fall 2011
- pp. 327-335
- 10.1353/cpr.2011.0044
- Article
- Additional Information
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Buy Issue for $25 at JHUPProblem: Rates of poorly controlled asthma among low-income children, particularly racial and ethnic minorities, remain disproportionately high. Comprehensive asthma programs, including education, case management and home environmental interventions have reduced disparities. Few sustainable payment models exist.
Purpose: The Children’s Hospital Boston’s Community Asthma Initiative (CAI) demonstrated dramatic reductions in hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits among African American and Latino patients with a return on investment (ROI) of 1.46. A strong coalition focused on sustainability plus CAI outcomes contributed to the state legislature’s approving a bundled payment pilot for high-risk pediatric asthma patients on Medicaid/MassHealth.
Key Points: Cost-effective, comprehensive asthma programs and policy makers’ interest in new payment models created an opportunity for a new payment approach for pediatric asthma care.
Conclusion: A community coalition that successfully addresses asthma health disparities with a strong business case and program outcomes can be leveraged to persuade policy makers of the value of innovative financing strategies for asthma care.
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