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Goal 1.1: Increase equitable access to healthcare

Health Indicators
The following health indicators help track progress and current status on improving Access and Health Equity.
Compared to MD Counties, Somerset, MD has a value of 92.0% which is in the 2nd worst quartile of counties. Counties in the best 50% have a value higher than 92.4% while counties in the worst 25% have a value lower than 91.4%. Compared to MD Counties, Somerset, MD has a value of 92.0% which is in the 2nd worst quartile of counties. Counties in the best 50% have a value higher than 92.4% while counties in the worst 25% have a value lower than 91.4%.
Adults with Health Insurance: 18-64
Compared to MD Counties, Somerset, MD has a value of 6.7% which is in the best 50% of counties. Counties in the best 50% have a value lower than 9.1% while counties in the worst 25% have a value higher than 11.4%. Compared to MD Counties, Somerset, MD has a value of 6.7% which is in the best 50% of counties. Counties in the best 50% have a value lower than 9.1% while counties in the worst 25% have a value higher than 11.4%.
Adults Unable to Afford to See a Doctor
Compared to MD Counties, Somerset, MD has a value of 37 which is in the worst 25% of counties. Counties in the best 50% have a value higher than 54 while counties in the worst 25% have a value lower than 38. Compared to MD Counties, Somerset, MD has a value of 37 which is in the worst 25% of counties. Counties in the best 50% have a value higher than 54 while counties in the worst 25% have a value lower than 38.
Primary Care Provider Rate

County: Somerset, MD

(Compared to MD Counties)

         Objective 1                    

By June 2025, increase insurance coverage for populations with disparities in health coverage.

Wicomico: Increase coverage for Hispanic residents of Wicomico County to 75% (2020 baseline = 65.3%).

Somerset: Maintain coverage rate for Hispanic residents of Somerset County at 90% (2020 baseline = 90%).

Sussex: Maintain percentage of adults with health insurance at 90%.

How We Will Accomplish This Objective

Strategies (Program Owner)

  • Outreach to uninsured and underinsured groups to increase health insurance enrollment (Lower Shore Health Insurance Assistance Program – Worcester County Health Department).

  • Outreach and MCHIP assistance especially for Hispanic residents. (WiCHD)

  • Continue the work that is currently being done in the migrant program and integrating our Community Health Workers into healthcare facilities. (SCHD)

  • Screen patients for health insurance coverage and refer to health insurance assistance programs and navigators (TidalHealth)

  • Refer children without health insurance at School-Based Wellness Centers to Community Health Worker (TidalHealth)

Performance Measures

  • Percentage of Hispanic residents with health insurance for Wicomico and Somerset Counties

  • Number of outreach activities conducted to promote health insurance coverage among uninsured and underinsured populations

         Objective 2                    

By June 2025, establish a process to determine the insurance coverage percentage for the Haitian population.

Wicomico: Process created and piloted by June 2025.

How We Will Accomplish This Objective

Strategies (Project Owner)

Jan
2023

  • Work with LHIC partners to develop and pilot process. (WiCHD)

Performance Measures

  • Documented process

  • Results of pilot of implemented process

         Objective 3                    

By December 2023, implement best practices and standardization of social determinants of health screening and closed-loop, bidirectional referrals across multiple sectors and community-based partners.

Service area: Adopt a screening tool and referral platform.

How We Will Accomplish This Objective

Strategies (Program Owner)

  • Conduct an environmental scan of community-based partners to assess who is currently utilizing SDOH screenings (TidalHealth)

  • Increase adoption and use of social care service and resource referral platform among community-based organizations i.e. findhelp. (TidalHealth)

Performance Measures

  • Documented Process and identified tool

  • Establish baseline of adopters of identified tool(s) and increase CBOs using the tool for screening and referrals

         Objective 4                  

By June 2025, expand the diversity of the community health worker workforce within health systems, public health and adjacent sectors.

Service area: Establish baseline of CHWs in each of the counties

How We Will Accomplish This Objective

Strategies (Program Owner)

  • Determine baseline measure of Community Health Workers (CHWs), including the number of bilingual CHWs. (LHICs)

  • Increase access to funding to support certification training and salaries for Community Health Worker (CHW) positions at local health care, public health, and community-based organizations serving marginalized or disadvantaged populations by collaborating on grants and alternative payment agreements with Medicaid MCOs (TidalHealth)

  • Establish a regional association for CHWs to support workforce development (LHICs)

Performance Measures

  • Baseline of CHWs across community-based originations

  • Number of new CHWs hired overall

  • Number of new bilingual CHWs hired

  • Number of CHWs certified

  • Establishment of regional CHWs association

Goal 1.2: Provide education and promote awareness of health equity, including policy recommendations

         Objective 1                    

By June 2024, develop and adopt Health Equity Framework(s) among key partner organizations

How We Will Accomplish This Objective

Strategies (Program Owner)

  • Participate in health equity learning collaboratives and adopt Institute of Healthcare Improvement’s Health Equity framework (TidalHealth)

  • Establish a subcommittee in the LHIC to be tasked with Health Equity (Wicomico LHIC)

Performance Measures

  • Outcomes of health equity project aims as identified by TidalHealth

  • Health Equity Sub-Committee established

         Objective 2                    

By June 2025, local health coalitions present at least one policy recommendation related to health equity.

How We Will Accomplish This Objective

Strategies (Project Owner)

Jan
2023

  • Conduct an environmental scan for community organizations to assess health literacy polices and resources in place (Somerset and Wicomico LHICs)

  • Create action plan to address gaps identified in the environmental scan. (Somerset and Wicomico LHICs)

Performance Measures

  • Documented scan completed

  • Completed action plan

         Objective 3                    

June 2024, increase engagement of diverse community members in the local health improvement coalitions in Somerset and Wicomico counties.

Wicomico and Somerset: Recruit at least 2 LHIC members annually.

How We Will Accomplish This Objective

Strategies (Program Owner)

  • Complete analysis of LHIC membership annually and recruit new members based on gaps identified (SCHD and WiCHD)

  • Promote LHIC to diverse groups such as Lower Shore Vulnerable Populations Task Force to increase engagement and membership among underrepresented groups. (SCHD and WiCHD)

Performance Measures

  • Analysis report of LHIC membership

  • Number of new LHIC members overall

  • Number of new LHIC members by sector

  • Number of outreach presentations of the LHIC