Potential Health and Saving Impacts of Community Health Workers (CHWs): A Policy Brief

Unequal health outcomes disproportionately affect minorities and other low-socioeconomic populations. The usage and reimbursement of Community Health Workers (CHWs) throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania could potentially preserve resources. Medicaid, the public insurer for many of these individuals, expenditures totaled $20,393,353,134 for FY 2012 in Pennsylvania. Early research concerning return on investment indicated that for a Community Connector Program in Arkansas created an estimated savings of $2.619 million dollars for the Medicaid program, based on a $2.92 per dollar invested in the program. In Pennsylvania, four strategies to promote policy change for CHWs include obtaining sustainable financing; promoting workforce development; creating occupational regulations; and continue research and evaluation of programs that are achievable strategies for Pennsylvania to accomplish in the coming years. This brief identifies examples of best-practices from other states who have had success in implementing a statewide program.