As one of the first two Certified Community Health Workers in the City of Lynchburg since 2017, I am writing in strong support of this legislation and the Commonwealth’s efforts to formally integrate certified Community Health Workers (CHWs) into Medicaid care coordination and reimbursement structures.
Community Health Workers are a sustaining workforce for our communities. We serve as the trusted bridge between Medicaid members and health care, dental, behavioral health, and social service systems. CHWs are often the first to identify barriers to care—whether transportation, housing instability, food insecurity, language access, or distrust rooted in past experiences—and the last to disengage when systems become difficult to navigate.
This bill appropriately recognizes the value of CHWs by exploring their integration into managed care coordination models, particularly for individuals with chronic disease, complex social needs, disabilities, behavioral health conditions, and those who are high utilizers of care. Embedding CHWs into these models is not only patient-centered, but cost-effective, as CHWs help prevent avoidable emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and care fragmentation.
I also strongly support the evaluation of Medicaid reimbursement pathways for CHW-delivered services, including alignment with the 2024 Medicare Community Health Integration service codes. Sustainable reimbursement is essential to stabilizing and professionalizing the CHW workforce, reducing turnover, and ensuring continuity of care for Medicaid members.
Additionally, the bill’s emphasis on accessible workforce pathways is critical. Creating CHW training opportunities that align with federal community engagement and work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP recipients both strengthens the workforce and provides meaningful employment opportunities for individuals already embedded in their communities.
This legislation reflects a thoughtful, cross-agency approach that acknowledges what communities have long known: when CHWs are fully integrated and supported, outcomes improve—for patients, providers, and the health system as a whole.
I urge this committee and ultimately all of the Virginia General Assembly to support this bill and continue advancing policies that recognize Community Health Workers as essential members of the health care team. Let's go!
As one of the first two Certified Community Health Workers in the City of Lynchburg since 2017, I am writing in strong support of this legislation and the Commonwealth’s efforts to formally integrate certified Community Health Workers (CHWs) into Medicaid care coordination and reimbursement structures. Community Health Workers are a sustaining workforce for our communities. We serve as the trusted bridge between Medicaid members and health care, dental, behavioral health, and social service systems. CHWs are often the first to identify barriers to care—whether transportation, housing instability, food insecurity, language access, or distrust rooted in past experiences—and the last to disengage when systems become difficult to navigate. This bill appropriately recognizes the value of CHWs by exploring their integration into managed care coordination models, particularly for individuals with chronic disease, complex social needs, disabilities, behavioral health conditions, and those who are high utilizers of care. Embedding CHWs into these models is not only patient-centered, but cost-effective, as CHWs help prevent avoidable emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and care fragmentation. I also strongly support the evaluation of Medicaid reimbursement pathways for CHW-delivered services, including alignment with the 2024 Medicare Community Health Integration service codes. Sustainable reimbursement is essential to stabilizing and professionalizing the CHW workforce, reducing turnover, and ensuring continuity of care for Medicaid members. Additionally, the bill’s emphasis on accessible workforce pathways is critical. Creating CHW training opportunities that align with federal community engagement and work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP recipients both strengthens the workforce and provides meaningful employment opportunities for individuals already embedded in their communities. This legislation reflects a thoughtful, cross-agency approach that acknowledges what communities have long known: when CHWs are fully integrated and supported, outcomes improve—for patients, providers, and the health system as a whole. I urge this committee and ultimately all of the Virginia General Assembly to support this bill and continue advancing policies that recognize Community Health Workers as essential members of the health care team. Let's go!