Findhelp Collaborates with Social Care Network to Enhance Medicaid Support in New York
On January 1, 2025, Findhelp, a leading platform focused on closed-loop referrals, launched an innovative initiative with three Social Care Network (SCN) partners to respond to the health-related social needs (HRSNs) of over 1.5 million New York Medicaid participants. This monumental step is part of the New York Health Equity Reform (NYHER) initiative aimed at integrating both health and social care services efficiently.
The initiative, collaborating with SCN partners including SOMOS Community Care, Forward Leading IPA, and the Western New York Integrated Care Collaborative, met all essential requirements outlined in the state's extensive operations manual. Moreover, it was executed on time and within budget, thereby ensuring that the operational integrity is maintained across all fronts, including data ingestion, platform usability, and interoperability metrics.
Findhelp's deployment focused on a critical requirement: connecting individual members with eligible services. Through secure ingestion of eligibility rosters, Findhelp was able to compile the data of more than a million Medicaid members throughout New York, facilitating necessary screenings for social needs, closing referrals, and overseeing the payment systems for sanctioned HRSN services. This enables a streamlined process to ensure that individuals can easily access the assistance they require while allowing community-based organizations to receive timely payments for their services.
In an exciting development, Findhelp established an unprecedented direct linkage with New York's Health Information Exchange (HIE), leveraging HRSN data standards. This partnership allows the secure exchange of social care data among SCNs, healthcare providers, HRSN providers, and the state. Such an arrangement ensures that Medicaid members who have consented to share their data benefit from timely reporting and analytics, as well as the vital financial support necessary for community organizations tasked with delivering essential services.
Mukta Nandwani, Chief Technology Officer at Findhelp, expressed pride in this initiative, emphasizing the organization's commitment to connecting communities with the programs needed for improved health and social outcomes. Nandwani's words underscore the goal of making access to care easier and more dignified for New Yorkers enrolled in Medicaid.
Each SCN partner in this collaboration serves a diverse array of populations across New York State. For example, SOMOS Community Care involves a vast network comprising over 2,600 healthcare professionals dedicated to servicing more than 1 million patients primarily in the Bronx. Forward Leading IPA is pioneering an integrated delivery network in upstate New York that combines behavioral health, social care, and primary care services to better serve the Finger Lakes region's inhabitants. Meanwhile, the Western New York Integrated Care Collaborative strives to boost patient health outcomes by collaborating with healthcare plans and local providers within its vicinity.
The degree of anticipation surrounding this initiative can't go unnoticed. John Dionisio, CIO at SOMOS, expressed excitement over the program's successful launch, emphasizing its potential to formalize and expand the connection between social care and medical care for over 700,000 Medicaid members in the Bronx. With the project officially live, many stakeholders, including community-based organizations, primary care providers, and other health-centric professionals, stand poised to optimize patient care through this integrated model.
Within the upcoming two years, the SCNs anticipate gaining access to eligibility data, overseeing needs screenings, conducting closed-loop referrals, providing payment mechanisms for services, and delivering comprehensive reports on outcomes across the board. Findhelp remains committed to offering best practices, strategic advice, and continuous platform optimization to ensure that these partnerships yield significant and meaningful impacts.
Findhelp is equipped with a robust track record of assisting Section 1115 waiver demonstrations nationwide, extending its support from California to Massachusetts, Indiana, and beyond. The organization is thrilled to align its efforts with the SCNs as it seeks to revolutionize HRSN service delivery in New York through interoperable and integrated technology.
About Findhelp
Founded in 2010, Findhelp is dedicated to building thriving and comprehensive communities by addressing the complete individual, focusing on connecting those in need with the available resources and programs designed to assist them. Its software platform has empowered various stakeholders, including community organizations, governmental bodies, and businesses, through efficient management and coordination of care efforts. Whether it involves screening for needs, managing closed-loop referrals, tracking outcomes, or improving health equity insights, Findhelp is catalyzing the modernization of social support systems.