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Patient Navigation

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Professional Navigators and Community Health Workers (CHWs) are trained frontline staff who act as a crucial bridge between communities, patients, and health care providers. By supporting patients as they navigate social and health care system barriers, CHWs and navigators allow patients to better manage chronic health conditions, resulting in improved health outcomes and reduced health care costs.

Despite compelling evidence regarding the impact of their services, CHW and navigation programs have historically been funded via grants or operational budgets, rather than health care reimbursement. This approach has limited their availability and long-term sustainability. The Health Law Lab develops resources describing current gaps, innovations, and policy opportunities on this topic, and works with partners to drive related health system reform.

Related Blog Posts

  • Multiple Topics
  • July 31, 2023

New Medicare Payment Policy Proposal Tackles Key Health-Related Social Needs Services

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has unveiled exciting proposals for  Medicare reimbursement of certain key services that support health-related social needs: community health worker services, navigation services, and social determinants of health risk assessment.   More specifically, CMS is considering reforms to the Physician Fee Schedule that will better identify and value, through […]

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  • Multiple Topics
  • August 29, 2022

Listen to the Experts: Community Health Workers Weigh in on Policy

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 […]

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  • Multiple Topics
  • October 28, 2020

Prioritizing People: Health Care Fraud & Abuse Law Flexibility During COVID-19

As communities across the country continue to grapple with the consequences of COVID-19, the health care system is called upon to address social determinants of health (SDOH). Some health system entities have concerns about supporting their patients in new ways while continuing to ensure compliance with health care fraud and abuse laws. This blog post […]

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  • Multiple Topics
  • October 17, 2019

Welcome to The Health Law Lab!

Over the years, the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation of Harvard Law School’s work with community based organizations, health care providers, payers, and government officials has highlighted that health relies on more than a visit to the doctor’s office. Emerging models of community-clinical partnerships address the ways that our homes, food, environment, and […]

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