Earlier this summer, CHLPI and the Illinois Community Health Worker Association (ILCHWA) released their report, Illinois Community Health Worker Roundtables: Recommendations for the Community Health Worker Certification and Reimbursement Act. The report was a product of robust community engagement over the past year—a series of five roundtables brought together community health workers (CHWs) and representatives from employers, training institutions, and health care payor and provider organizations from across Illinois to discuss issues related to the training, certification, and reimbursement of CHWs under the Act.
What is a Community Health Worker? Community Health Workers (CHWs) are frontline public health workers who are trusted members of the communities they serve. Because of their close community ties, CHWs serve as an important bridge between patients and the healthcare system, ensuring access to needed resources and support services and overcoming barriers to care.
The report issues a series of 28 recommendations designed to fortify and uplift this crucial workforce, ensuring expanded access to quality healthcare for all in Illinois. Key perspectives shared include:
* Avoid barriers that might exclude experienced or prospective CHWs from benefitting from Medicaid reimbursement such as educational, language, citizenship, or background check requirements for certification;
*CHWs must be represented in curriculum development, training, and supervisory roles;
*CHWs have expertise that must be recognized and credited in training and certification requirements; and
*Medicaid reimbursement structures must embrace and adequately compensates for the broad array of services performed by CHWs.
What is the Community Health Worker Certification and Reimbursement Act? In 2021, the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus introduced the Community Health Worker Certification and Reimbursement Act as part of the sweeping and ambitious Illinois Health Care and Human Service Reform Act. Among other changes aimed at increasing health equity and reducing racial disparities in care and health outcomes, the Act created new opportunities for CHWs to be reimbursed through Medicaid, creating a sustainable funding stream to support the workforce. The Act also directed the Illinois Department of Public Health to collaborate with a statewide association of CHWs on key implementation provisions.
Watch the webinar recording here. Read the report Illinois Community Health Worker Roundtables: Recommendations for the Community Health Worker Certification and Reimbursement Act in English and Spanish.