Guest bio

Becky is a Senior Director for the Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA), where she engages with the other senior directors of the IRHA Executive Team in strategic planning and guidance for the future of the IRHA. She works with a wide variety of healthcare providers throughout the state of Indiana and maintains relationships with other state organizations to foster public/private partnerships on behalf of the IRHA.

Becky also serves as the Program Director for the Upper Midwest Telehealth Resource Center (UMTRC). In this role, she provides technical assistance and resources for healthcare facilities in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. The UMTRC serves as a single point of contact for telehealth resources through educational presentations, individualized technical assistance, facilitation, and connections to telehealth information via the website and program staff.

Ms. Sanders has been with the IRHA since 2008. She has a Lean Healthcare Black Belt Certification from Purdue Healthcare Advisors and is a National Rural Health Association Fellow. Becky previously worked in telecommunications for the National Exchange Carrier Association. Ms. Sanders has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana State University and a Masters of Business Administration in Healthcare Management from Western Governors University.

Highlights from this episode

The impact of the pandemic on telehealth usage by providers
Trends in infrastructure needed to support broader use of telehealth
Telehealth trends for Medicaid and Medicaid
Promising new models with care extenders in pharmacies and libraries

Further Exploration

https://www.umtrc.org/engagement/podcasts/

https://www.indianaruralhealth.org/

https://www.umtrc.org/resources/reimbursement/

https://www.cchpca.org/

https://telehealthresourcecenter.org/

Posted on July 20, 2021July 20, 2021 by MM_ADMIN

Medicaid Conversations: Anne Santifer- Using HIE data to engage providers and improve outcomes

Posted on July 1, 2021July 1, 2021 by MM_ADMIN

Medicaid and Jail Health Episode 2: Interview with Blaire Bryant

Guest bio

Blaire Bryant is the Associate Legislative Director for Health at the National Association of Counties. In this capacity she works with county officials across the nation to set NACo’s policies on matters related to health policy and the public health system. Blaire holds a B.A. in Biopsychology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and a Master’s Degree in Community Health Education from the University of Maryland College Park.

Highlights from this episode

The challenge of using jails and prisons for mental health care delivery
Key terms, especially pre-trial detainees, post-conviction, recidivism
NACO’s partnership with sheriff’s association
Constitutional issues around removing healthcare coverage for pre-trial detainees
Key differences between jails and prisons, especially the different continuity of care issues
Medicaid inmate exclusion policy- key issues, impact, efforts to change
NACO top objectives- educate federal partners and the general public on the inmate exclusion policy, advocate for change in federal policy to allow pre-trial detainees to continue to receive federal policy, provide resources for local level advocates to pursue change, and create one body of research that examines all the components in the issue
In depth discussion of recent legislative efforts
State options to improve right now, including suspending Medicaid enrollment vs terminating it, and options for 1115 waivers

Further Exploration

Blaire’s recommended reads

NACo Joint Task Force Report with NSA on the MIEP
NACo/NSA Task Force Home Page
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Report: , Decarcerating Correctional Facilities During COVID-19: Advancing Health, Equity, and Safety
Task Force Report Update Memo (American University)

Posted on June 28, 2021June 28, 2021 by MM_ADMIN

Medicaid and Jail Health Episode 1: Interview with Dr. Evan Ashkin

Guest bio

Evan Ashkin, MD, is the founder of the Formerly Incarcerated Transition (FIT) Program, which aims to help recently released inmates with chronic illnesses to receive proper medical care upon rejoining their communities. Ashkin also serves as professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the UNC School of Medicine

Highlights from this episode

The challenge of using jails and prisons for mental health care delivery
Healthcare needs profile of formerly incarcerated individuals
Overview of the Transitions Clinic and NC FIT model
Common misunderstandings about care provided to incarcerated individuals
Importance of connecting formerly incarcerated individuals with community health workers are also formerly incarcerated
Medication assisted treatment (MAT) and the opportunity window to avoid overdose deaths
Lack of teaching about jail health in medical schools
Tips to get a re-entry program started in your state