Stan

Yeah. So it seems to me, hold on one sec, Clarence. So it seems to me the point of contact for a particular patient, at least right now, and you hope that it morphs broader, but at least right now is through a healthcare professional themselves. Am I right or not? In other words, like a physician or a nurse says, you know, Stan, you know, let's say I'm a patient, Stan, you could really

be helped by utilizing a community health worker as opposed to me, Stan, knowing that I want a community health worker because I might not know what they are yet. Is that fair or are we morphing more towards everybody kind of knowing? Go ahead, Angela. I see the hand up on that one.

be helped by utilizing a community health worker as opposed to me, Stan, knowing that I want a community health worker because I might not know what they are yet. Is that fair or are we morphing more towards everybody kind of knowing? Go ahead, Angela. I see the hand up on that one.

Yeah. Okay. Go ahead, Vanya. Yeah.

Yeah. Okay. Go ahead, Vanya. Yeah.

You know, for our listening audience, Minnesota is kind of historically pretty much on the cutting edge of community health worker engagement. Although it took a while. I remember back in 2008 when I was at the health department and we got a grant from CDC on how it is that we can use community health workers in a clinic setting in order to engage those that need help with blood pressure control.

You know, for our listening audience, Minnesota is kind of historically pretty much on the cutting edge of community health worker engagement. Although it took a while. I remember back in 2008 when I was at the health department and we got a grant from CDC on how it is that we can use community health workers in a clinic setting in order to engage those that need help with blood pressure control.

So I remember that distinctly. And then it got to the point, it was really interesting. It got to the point where everybody kind of understood what a community health worker was and how they can help.

So I remember that distinctly. And then it got to the point, it was really interesting. It got to the point where everybody kind of understood what a community health worker was and how they can help.

But then, you know, the grant was done and then all of a sudden it says, well, wait a minute now, if we have a choice, this is the clinic talking now, if we have a choice of hiring a nurse that can maybe cover that kind of stuff or a community health worker, now keep in mind, this was 2008, we've got to choose a nurse.

But then, you know, the grant was done and then all of a sudden it says, well, wait a minute now, if we have a choice, this is the clinic talking now, if we have a choice of hiring a nurse that can maybe cover that kind of stuff or a community health worker, now keep in mind, this was 2008, we've got to choose a nurse.

And then linked to that, which is the question I'm getting to, is the idea of reimbursement, which was not in the queue at that time. Fortunately, in the state of Minnesota, you can get Medicaid, if I'm not mistaken, Medicaid reimbursement. But let's talk about how it is that, frankly, you guys get paid. Is it through insurance? Is it through...

And then linked to that, which is the question I'm getting to, is the idea of reimbursement, which was not in the queue at that time. Fortunately, in the state of Minnesota, you can get Medicaid, if I'm not mistaken, Medicaid reimbursement. But let's talk about how it is that, frankly, you guys get paid. Is it through insurance? Is it through...

a person just paying you individually, how is it that you guys are paid? Is it through a referral system from a doc or a nurse who refers you? And then consequently, they can put it into the billing, et cetera, et cetera. How is this all kind of work? Who can tackle that one? Kristen, take a stab at it.

a person just paying you individually, how is it that you guys are paid? Is it through a referral system from a doc or a nurse who refers you? And then consequently, they can put it into the billing, et cetera, et cetera. How is this all kind of work? Who can tackle that one? Kristen, take a stab at it.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So, so, Rachel, maybe you could give us or somebody that let me point to Rachel, can you give us a perspective for our listening audience of, you know, we've been kind of Minnesota centric on the show so far. What, what's going on nationally? I mean, is this, you know, because we have listeners all over the place. What's going on in other states?

So, so, Rachel, maybe you could give us or somebody that let me point to Rachel, can you give us a perspective for our listening audience of, you know, we've been kind of Minnesota centric on the show so far. What, what's going on nationally? I mean, is this, you know, because we have listeners all over the place. What's going on in other states?

Or are we so far ahead of the game that, you know, we just hope that other states catch up? What's going on for the United States as far as community health workers are concerned?