Kristin Godfrey Walters

All right. Well, I'll take a start and then pass it on to Vani or others. So I think in general, um, community health workers in Minnesota are employed by organizations. Um, like you mentioned, like the healthcare clinic, the, uh, you know, the community organization that, uh, NASA deer worked for.

All right. Well, I'll take a start and then pass it on to Vani or others. So I think in general, um, community health workers in Minnesota are employed by organizations. Um, like you mentioned, like the healthcare clinic, the, uh, you know, the community organization that, uh, NASA deer worked for.

The county that or the the government organization that money worked for so in general those organizations have to have a funding mechanism to hire a Community health worker and that may be. You know it's usually a mix of grant funding some healthcare reimbursement dollars, which again can only be accessed for. organizations that can bill for healthcare services. And then operational funding.

The county that or the the government organization that money worked for so in general those organizations have to have a funding mechanism to hire a Community health worker and that may be. You know it's usually a mix of grant funding some healthcare reimbursement dollars, which again can only be accessed for. organizations that can bill for healthcare services. And then operational funding.

So usually there's a mix of different funding sources for community health workers. And of course, there's also community health workers in the community that volunteer their time and probably don't get paid for their time or are independent contractors.

So usually there's a mix of different funding sources for community health workers. And of course, there's also community health workers in the community that volunteer their time and probably don't get paid for their time or are independent contractors.

So there's a number of other models, but I'd say in general, employers or organizations have to have funding or come up with funding or commit funding to, you know, hire community health workers to, you know, to reach their goals and their mission and their work with patients and individuals.

So there's a number of other models, but I'd say in general, employers or organizations have to have funding or come up with funding or commit funding to, you know, hire community health workers to, you know, to reach their goals and their mission and their work with patients and individuals.

And as you mentioned, one of the funding sources in Minnesota is reimbursement for patients that are on Minnesota health care programs, clinics or providers that are set up to bill for services. So fee for service can can bill for community health worker services.

And as you mentioned, one of the funding sources in Minnesota is reimbursement for patients that are on Minnesota health care programs, clinics or providers that are set up to bill for services. So fee for service can can bill for community health worker services.

However, one thing that we're working on and can talk more about, or the Alliance is working on and can also talk more about, is right now it's a narrow scope of services that are billable. So community health workers complete their academic certificate program, as Angela talked about. So they complete their, they get a community health worker certificate.

However, one thing that we're working on and can talk more about, or the Alliance is working on and can also talk more about, is right now it's a narrow scope of services that are billable. So community health workers complete their academic certificate program, as Angela talked about. So they complete their, they get a community health worker certificate.

They can then apply to the Minnesota Department of Human Services to get what's called an UMPI number, which is a billing number that's similar to an NPI number that a provider would get And then for the organization that they're working for, they need to have general supervision by usually a licensed provider or healthcare professional, which there's a long list of what that includes.

They can then apply to the Minnesota Department of Human Services to get what's called an UMPI number, which is a billing number that's similar to an NPI number that a provider would get And then for the organization that they're working for, they need to have general supervision by usually a licensed provider or healthcare professional, which there's a long list of what that includes.

And then the services that are diagnosis-based health education type of services are reimbursable. through the billing and claims system. So it's great that there's reimbursement and it's also a fairly limited scope of the services. You heard all of the services that community health workers provide.

And then the services that are diagnosis-based health education type of services are reimbursable. through the billing and claims system. So it's great that there's reimbursement and it's also a fairly limited scope of the services. You heard all of the services that community health workers provide.

It's kind of a subset of services that are reimbursed and it needs to be in a setting that can be billed to insurance. And right now it's primarily for those that are on Minnesota healthcare programs, which is great, but that may also not be everyone.

It's kind of a subset of services that are reimbursed and it needs to be in a setting that can be billed to insurance. And right now it's primarily for those that are on Minnesota healthcare programs, which is great, but that may also not be everyone.

So there is, so I guess to kind of sum that up a little bit, as you talked about the organizations that are looking to support, you know, should I hire a nurse or should I hire a community health worker? And, you know, how is the organization going to sustain or maintain that position?

So there is, so I guess to kind of sum that up a little bit, as you talked about the organizations that are looking to support, you know, should I hire a nurse or should I hire a community health worker? And, you know, how is the organization going to sustain or maintain that position?

Really, the financing model for the billing isn't going to, you know, right now, likely isn't going to fund the full, a full position if that's what, you know, organization is looking for. And so usually it's, it's a commitment of different sources of funding, and hopefully eventually expanding reimbursement options in Minnesota.

Really, the financing model for the billing isn't going to, you know, right now, likely isn't going to fund the full, a full position if that's what, you know, organization is looking for. And so usually it's, it's a commitment of different sources of funding, and hopefully eventually expanding reimbursement options in Minnesota.

Hi, everyone. I'm Kristen Godfrey Walters, and I'm the Community Health Worker Training Program Director at the Minnesota Department of Health, where I work with this fabulous team of community health workers.

Hi, everyone. I'm Kristen Godfrey Walters, and I'm the Community Health Worker Training Program Director at the Minnesota Department of Health, where I work with this fabulous team of community health workers.

And I've also had the opportunity to work with community health workers for many years, where I previously worked at a safety net hospital and clinic system, implementing community health worker programs and services. So happy to be here with this wonderful team.

And I've also had the opportunity to work with community health workers for many years, where I previously worked at a safety net hospital and clinic system, implementing community health worker programs and services. So happy to be here with this wonderful team.

OK, well, I'll speak to the leaders, the funders, the administrators and public health and health care and community organizations and government that, you know, as you've heard, community health workers are really a culturally responsive, effective organization. evidence-based workforce with a return on investment.

OK, well, I'll speak to the leaders, the funders, the administrators and public health and health care and community organizations and government that, you know, as you've heard, community health workers are really a culturally responsive, effective organization. evidence-based workforce with a return on investment.

They play a key role in addressing chronic disease prevention and management, addressing social determinants of health, and reducing health disparities and diversifying the healthcare workforce. So that's my overall kind of plea to the leadership.

They play a key role in addressing chronic disease prevention and management, addressing social determinants of health, and reducing health disparities and diversifying the healthcare workforce. So that's my overall kind of plea to the leadership.

Sure. Sure.

Sure. Sure.

And I'll welcome others to chime in as well, but I would say right now, at least the current state in Minnesota, in the structure of, uh, of, of community health workers, for example, in a healthcare system, it's usually the provider or the community health worker themselves doing identifying the patient and kind of doing the outreach or introducing themselves, um, you know, community organizations, um,

And I'll welcome others to chime in as well, but I would say right now, at least the current state in Minnesota, in the structure of, uh, of, of community health workers, for example, in a healthcare system, it's usually the provider or the community health worker themselves doing identifying the patient and kind of doing the outreach or introducing themselves, um, you know, community organizations, um,

do a similar things or insurance companies where they may be identifying patients either based on that individual relationship, understanding what barriers or challenges that a patient or our member or community member may be having. So it could be kind of from the provider perspective

do a similar things or insurance companies where they may be identifying patients either based on that individual relationship, understanding what barriers or challenges that a patient or our member or community member may be having. So it could be kind of from the provider perspective

or looking at systems information to see, oh, that all of these, this group of patients has diabetes and could benefit from a community health worker. So in kind of current state, it's usually the, again, the clinic, the provider,

or looking at systems information to see, oh, that all of these, this group of patients has diabetes and could benefit from a community health worker. So in kind of current state, it's usually the, again, the clinic, the provider,

the insurance company, the nonprofit community agency kind of identifying either individuals or groups of individuals and connecting the community health workers or having the community health workers make connection through outreach and relationships. And so I don't know that we're in a place yet in Minnesota where an individual, a patient, your mom may know to ask

the insurance company, the nonprofit community agency kind of identifying either individuals or groups of individuals and connecting the community health workers or having the community health workers make connection through outreach and relationships. And so I don't know that we're in a place yet in Minnesota where an individual, a patient, your mom may know to ask

or say, hey, I could utilize the assistance of a community health worker. And that's something that we're hoping that we're working on in this grant work that we're doing together between MDH and the Community Health Worker Alliance and other partners.

or say, hey, I could utilize the assistance of a community health worker. And that's something that we're hoping that we're working on in this grant work that we're doing together between MDH and the Community Health Worker Alliance and other partners.

and just the alliances doing in the state in general is to really try to build the community health worker workforce so that there's a larger workforce and to build the awareness of who community health workers are and how to connect with them. But I would welcome anyone else if there's other perspectives here as kind of the current state in Minnesota.

and just the alliances doing in the state in general is to really try to build the community health worker workforce so that there's a larger workforce and to build the awareness of who community health workers are and how to connect with them. But I would welcome anyone else if there's other perspectives here as kind of the current state in Minnesota.

But right now, I think that's the landscape that I'm familiar with.

But right now, I think that's the landscape that I'm familiar with.