“Rhode Island Diabetes Health Equity Challenge” aimed at supporting patients at higher risk of COVID-19

“Rhode Island Diabetes Health Equity Challenge” aimed at supporting patients at higher risk of COVID-19

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — In partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Health and 100 Million Healthier Lives, the Care Transformation Collaborative of Rhode Island has announced a “Rhode Island Diabetes Health Equity Challenge” to improve population health for people with diabetes with equity challenges who are at higher risk for COVID-19.

Teams can apply to join a five-month initiative aimed at building important links between primary care practices, community health teams and the state’s Health Equity Zones to improve health outcomes to meet the needs of the most vulnerable populations. Each team is additionally asked to identify a person with lived experience who will help inform community solutions.

“We hope to use this moment of crisis to help our primary care communities rapidly respond to Rhode Islanders who are vulnerable and at high-risk,” said Debra Hurwitz, MBA, BSN, RN, Executive Director of the Care Transformation Collaborative of Rhode Island. “By sharing assets and investments, we’ll identify new solutions to support population health in Rhode Island while more broadly addressing health equity issues. We know that people with social needs, such as having access to medications, food, caregivers, and chronic conditions like diabetes, put them at greater risk.”

The Rhode Island Diabetes Health Equity Challenge will be guided by Well-Being and Equity in the World and Well-Being in the Nation Network faculty who will use tools developed by the 100 Million Healthier Lives to accelerate a pathway to improve an equitable, rapid and sustainable response for people experiencing disparities in diabetic outcomes in the context of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The Rhode Island Diabetes Health Equity Challenge will bring together up to three geographically-related teams each consisting of four key elements: a Health Equity Zone, a Community Health Team, a primary care practice that serves vulnerable populations, and a resident patient with lived experience of inequities with diabetes.

Using the urgent needs identified by the coronavirus crisis, a team will develop a rapid, and sustainable network of support to address issues like:

• Access issues to medications, blood glucose monitoring, and supplies
• Potential loss of healthcare access and benefits due to employment status
• Access to food and transportation
• Potential loss of access to caregivers as a result of social distancing
• Telehealth services for physical and mental health (and reimbursement)
• Social isolation

Up to three geographically linked teams will be selected, applications were submitted by April 15 with the initiative launching in late April. Each team will be eligible for funding that can be used to off-set the costs associated with participating in the Challenge.

About the Care Transformation Collaborative of Rhode Island:

The Care Transformation Collaborative of Rhode Island (CTC-RI) is working with all major health care stakeholders to transform primary care in Rhode Island. Co-convened by the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, CTC-RI promotes the patient-centered medical home, a model of primary care that is patient-focused, coordinated, accessible and team-based. The model focuses on prevention, wellness and appropriate treatment, which will lead to improved care, lower costs and better health outcomes for Rhode Island.