Colorado could become the latest state to use Medicaid (government-funded health insurance) for non-health care expenses.
The Biden administration recently began approving waivers that allow Medicaid dollars to be used for housing and nutrition assistance, and Colorado is among a growing number of states seeking a waiver.
Healthier Colorado CEO Jake Williams says where you live and what you eat affects your health.
“Having access to health insurance is important, but many other factors affect our ability to be healthy. How we live our lives when we are outside the doctor’s office, including having a safe, affordable place to call home, as well as our access to healthy foods, are significant predictors of both positive and negative health outcomes,” Williams said.
The waiver would help provide more funding for organizations like Project Angel Heart. Each week, about 300 volunteers at the nonprofit prepare and deliver more than 770,000 meals to nearly 5,000 Coloradans with chronic health conditions.
“Many of our clients are living with diagnoses of cancer, heart failure and COPD, situations where the nutrition they receive really plays an important role,” said Nic Soucy, director of government affairs for Project Angel Heart.
She says dietitians medically tailor each meal to the client’s needs. All meals are prepared, packaged and delivered free of charge, thanks in large part to donations. The program not only saves money for clients, but also the health care system. Research shows that giving people access to medically tailored meals can save millions of dollars in fewer hospital readmissions.
A new law, sponsored by State Senator Robert Rodriguez, State Senator Barb Kirkmeyer, State Representative Kyle Brown and State Representative Shannon Bird, could help more people access not only healthy foods but also housing. Directs the Colorado Office of Health Care Policy and Financing to apply for a waiver allowing Medicaid to be used for housing and nutrition assistance. The Department will conduct a study to determine exactly what type of housing assistance Medicaid will cover.
“Not only does it help us draw down additional federal dollars, but it helps us leverage existing state dollars to use as a match so we can get credit for the work that we’re essentially already doing and amplify and magnify it going forward,” Brown said. .
Nearly 20 states have already received a waiver, and Colorado could join them next year.
Soucy says it would allow Project Angel Heart to help even more Coloradans in need.
“This will help keep people out of the hospital, keep them home and that will save taxpayers money,” Soucy said.
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Shaun Boyd
Keynote USA
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