The Community Health Council of Wyandotte County celebrated reaching a milestone on Thursday. More than 1,000 residents who were uninsured or underinsured have received personalized care from CHC health workers.
The $1.9 million funding for this project came from a three-year partnership with the United Health Foundation, according to a spokesman. The celebration was held at the Community Health Council’s offices near 8th and Armstrong in Kansas City, Kansas.
In the first year of the partnership, CHC funded seven community health workers. These workers helped those who were underserved or had multiple chronic conditions in the Kansas City, Kansas area, the spokesman said.
CHC and the Kansas City C.A.R.E. Clinic were in charge of management of the community health workers. The workers provided services to improve coordination of primary care for lower-income residents in Wyandotte County, according to the spokesman.
The CHC’s community health workers served as “accountability partners” for their patients by scheduling doctor appointments, finding affordable health care services and medications, and ensuring their patients understand their diagnosis and treatment plan, the spokesman said. They also help with overcoming challenges such as language barriers and securing resources such as food and housing.
“UnitedHealthcare is honored to support the Community Health Council of Wyandotte County in helping more Kansans connect with quality care and build a healthier Kansas,” said Kevin Sparks, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Kansas.
“Our partnership with UnitedHealthcare has enabled us to bring community health workers to Wyandotte County and opened the collective imagination about the future of health care in Kansas City,” said Jerry Jones, CHC executive director. “What CHC and UnitedHealthcare have built together with this initiative is just the beginning of a period of collaboration and innovation to improve the health and well-being of the people we serve.”
