UnitedHealthcare Commits $335,000 to Idaho Organizations To Expand Health Care Workforce and Access To Care

Rhea-AI Summary

UnitedHealthcare has announced a $335,000 commitment to Idaho organizations aimed at expanding health care workforce and access to care. The funding will support various initiatives, including:

- Training 500 Direct Care Workers on Alzheimer's essentials
- Expanding rural transportation options
- Increasing access to assistive technologies and durable medical equipment
- Supporting diabetes prevention programs for older adults in Hispanic or American Indian communities
- Enhancing caregiver support services
- Increasing health care access for Shoshone-Bannock Tribes
- Implementing regional health plans and promoting resource connectivity

These efforts aim to address challenges such as food insecurity, diabetes prevalence, and shortages in primary care physicians and mental health providers in Idaho.

Positive

• UnitedHealthcare commits $335,000 to expand health care workforce and access in Idaho
• Funding supports various initiatives targeting underserved communities, including rural areas and seniors
• Partnerships with multiple organizations to address specific health care needs in Idaho

Negative

• None.

Insights

Corporate Social Responsibility Expert

UnitedHealthcare's $335,000 commitment to Idaho organizations demonstrates a strategic approach to addressing healthcare gaps in underserved communities. This initiative targets key areas such as rural healthcare access, chronic disease management and senior care. The diverse range of programs supported, including caregiver training, transportation expansion and diabetes prevention, shows a comprehensive understanding of the state's healthcare challenges.

Notably, the focus on training 500 Direct Care Workers in Alzheimer's care addresses Idaho's aging population needs. The support for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and Hispanic communities reflects an emphasis on cultural competence in healthcare delivery. These targeted investments align with UnitedHealthcare's broader mission of improving health outcomes and could potentially reduce long-term healthcare costs.

While the financial commitment is relatively modest compared to UnitedHealthcare's overall resources, the localized approach and partnerships with established organizations suggest efficient use of funds. This initiative may enhance UnitedHealthcare's reputation in Idaho, potentially leading to increased market share and customer loyalty in the state's competitive healthcare landscape.

Healthcare Policy Analyst

This initiative by UnitedHealthcare addresses critical healthcare workforce and access issues in Idaho, aligning with national trends in healthcare policy. The focus on expanding the healthcare workforce, particularly in rural and underserved areas, is important given Idaho's low rankings in primary care physician (38th) and mental health provider (33rd) availability nationally.

The investment in community health workers and caregivers is a cost-effective strategy to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes. It's particularly relevant given the rising prevalence of chronic conditions like diabetes, affecting 10% of Idaho's adult population. The support for innovative delivery models, such as self-direction in long-term care, aligns with broader healthcare policy trends emphasizing patient empowerment and home-based care.

While this initiative is a step in the right direction, its long-term impact on Idaho's healthcare landscape remains to be seen. The success of these programs could potentially influence future healthcare policies and funding allocations at the state level, particularly in areas of workforce development and rural healthcare access.

UnitedHealthcare today announced a $335,000 commitment in funding to Idaho organizations to help close gaps in care among underserved communities, including people in rural areas, individuals with chronic conditions and seniors.

“Expanding programs for caregivers, community health workers and providers allows us to address unmet health needs more effectively, helping to ensure that underserved communities access high-quality care and social services they need,” said Dr. Alex Billioux, Government Programs Chief Medical Officer, UnitedHealthcare. “By equipping our health care workers with the necessary resources and training, we can help improve health outcomes and quality of life for all Idahoans.”

Idahoans have experienced increasing food insecurity¹ and 10% of the adult population annually report living with diabetes.² Additionally, Idaho ranks 38^th for availability of primary care physicians and 33^rd for availability of mental health providers nationally.³

Organizations supported through this commitment include:

• Alzheimer's Association (Greater Idaho Chapter and Washington State Chapter) and Idaho Caregiver Alliance ($60,000) to train 500 Direct Care Workers on Alzheimer's essentials to improve care for individuals with memory-related conditions.
• Area Agency on Aging of North Idaho ($35,000) to expand transportation options in rural Northern Idaho, allowing individuals to choose the transportation options that best suit their needs.
• Centers for Independent Living (Disability Action Center Northwest, Living Independence Network Corporation and LIFE, A Center for Independent Living) ($25,000) to expand access to assistive technologies and durable medical equipment to constituents through its “loan libraries” and build capacity on self-direction, a long-term care service delivery model which empowers people to maintain independence at home and control the support they receive.
• Diabetes Alliance of Idaho ($50,000) to support innovative diabetes prevention programs for older adults in Hispanic or American Indian communities.
• Idaho Caregiver Alliance ($30,000) to the Family Caregiver Navigator to support their efforts to connect caregivers with local resources, like respite care, to enhance the caregiver’s quality of life.
• Idaho State University ($50,000) to increase access to health care for members of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes by supporting an apprentice serving tribe members while completing a certified Community Health Representative program.
• Southwest Idaho Area Agency on Aging ($20,000) to enhance access to the "Living Well with Diabetes" program to teach individuals with diabetes and their caregivers about healthy living with chronic health conditions.
• Western Idaho Community Health Collaborative ($50,000) to implement its Regional Health Implementation plan, including promoting findhelpidaho.org, a website which connects Idahoans with social care and community resources, especially in rural areas.
• The Idaho Food Bank ($15,000) to pilot a program where food delivery personnel offer companionship and social interaction to address both food insecurity and social isolation.

“With UnitedHealthcare’s generous support, we can significantly enhance our efforts to provide equitable diabetes prevention programs, particularly for older adults and underserved communities,” said Dorothy Plaza, chair, Diabetes Alliance of Idaho (DAI). “This funding will implement and expand evidence-based programs, ultimately helping reduce the impact of diabetes across Idaho.”

UnitedHealthcare serves more than 160,000 members enrolled in employer-sponsored, individual and Medicare plans in Idaho, with a network of 50 hospitals and over 12,000 physicians and other care providers statewide. For more information on how UnitedHealthcare is working to build healthier communities across Idaho, visit uhccs.com/id.

About UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. In the United States, UnitedHealthcare offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1.7 million physicians and care professionals, and 7,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. The company also provides health benefits and delivers care to people through owned and operated health care facilities in South America. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group, a diversified health care company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow UnitedHealthcare on LinkedIn.

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1} https://idahofoodbank.org/feeding-americas-annual-map-the-meal-gap-report-shows-increase-in-food-insecurity/
² https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/health-wellness/diseases-conditions/diabetes
³ https://assets.americashealthrankings.org/app/uploads/allstatesummaries-ahr23.pdf

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241002911522/en/

UHC Media Contact:

Jon Fenech

Jon_Fenech@uhc.com, (763) 361-1127

Source: UnitedHealthcare

FAQ

What is the total amount UnitedHealthcare committed to Idaho organizations?

UnitedHealthcare committed $335,000 to Idaho organizations to expand health care workforce and access to care.

How many Direct Care Workers will be trained on Alzheimer's essentials through this funding?

The funding will support training for 500 Direct Care Workers on Alzheimer's essentials to improve care for individuals with memory-related conditions.

What specific initiative is UnitedHealthcare supporting for the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes?

UnitedHealthcare is providing $50,000 to Idaho State University to increase access to health care for members of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes by supporting an apprentice serving tribe members while completing a certified Community Health Representative program.

How is UnitedHealthcare addressing diabetes prevention in Idaho?

UnitedHealthcare is providing $50,000 to the Diabetes Alliance of Idaho to support innovative diabetes prevention programs for older adults in Hispanic or American Indian communities.