For immediate release: June 8, 2023
Contact: Ayesha Clarke, aclarke@hesct.org, 860-937-6611
Wednesday, a bill requiring Connecticut’s Medicaid program to design a comprehensive community health worker (CHW) program in consultation with CHWs passed both the House and the Senate. Now, the bill heads to the desk of Governor Ned Lamont, who is expected to sign it.
This bill was the result of 2 years of collaboration among Health Equity Solutions (HES), Community Health Worker Association of Connecticut and a coalition of over 100 CHWs and allies. With the passage of SB 991 and SB10, Connecticut will become the 26th state to reimburse CHW services or incentivize health care providers to work with CHWs.
“Today, Connecticut is a more equitable state because community health workers will be reimbursed for their critical role in maintaining health and addressing the inequities, particularly for people of color,” said Ayesha R. Clarke, MSW, MPH, executive director of Health Equity Solutions.
CHWs are public health outreach professionals with an in-depth understanding of the communities they serve. They facilitate interactions between patients, the health care system, and social and economic services. CHWs help people make appointments, understand their insurance benefits, communicate with doctors, pharmacists, and other health care providers, adapt medical advice to their lives, connect with services like food pantries, and more.
Milagrosa Seguinot, Executive Director of the Community Health Workers Association of Connecticut, noted: “I am so grateful that S.B. 989 passed. Thanks to everyone who participated in the process, supported the workforce, and believed in the importance of the work we do in our communities. We are ready to continue working and bringing quality of life to our residents in Connecticut. This is just the beginning of great things.”
Executive Director of the Connecticut Association for Community Action, Deb Polun, noted: “We are thrilled that Connecticut policymakers have recognized the great value of Community Health Workers by including them in Medicaid reimbursement. For over 60 years, Community Action Agencies have been helping people obtain housing, food, job training, and more – and we know that these types of services work to improve overall health and quality of life. Thanks to the collaboration of Community Health Workers, their employers, advocates, and policymakers, these services will be able to continue and grow, to the benefit of people across our state.”
“We are proud to have walked alongside amazing allies and are grateful for the leadership of Senator Lesser and Representative Gilchrist,” added Clarke.