Roadmap Policy: Improve Health for Specific At-Risk Populations

Roadmap
Policy: Improve Health for Specific At-Risk Populations
Specific populations that are at risk for poor health outcomes
for manageable conditions present unique opportunities for care
improvement. Toward this end, the Task Force recommends that the
targeted interventions detailed below be implemented to address the
special health care needs of specific sub-populations. Strategy
Element #15: Expand the existing evidence-based family home
visiting program for high-risk mothers and evaluate the impact of
home visiting on health disparities. Minnesota children who
experience economic hardships, maltreatment, and other trauma face
distinct risks to their overall health and development. In
Minnesota, 13.7% of pregnant women received inadequate or late (2nd
or 3rd trimester) prenatal care, 15.2% of pregnant women smoked
during their pregnancy, and 4.3 per 1,000 children 12 years and
younger are abused or neglected.
Evidence-based family home visiting has been shown to be an
effective service strategy for very young children and their
families, improving outcomes in lifelong health and well-being,
school readiness, and economic self-sufficiency.
Research-based family home visiting models have proven that for
every public health dollar invested, a return of up to $5.70 can be
expected in savings to programs including Medicaid and food
support. Therefore, the Task Force recommends expanding the family
home visiting program to include voluntarily-enrolled first-time
mothers on Medicaid and pregnant and parenting teenagers in the
Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP).
After reading the Road Map to a Healthier Minnesota, pick a
policy you want to discuss further in this discussion board.
What did you find most surprising in the plan and the
policy?
Discuss the implications the healthcare policy you chose impacts
the healthcare crisis happending today.
Perhaps the policy suggestions in the report are not something
you encounter in your work or profession. If not professionally,
which policy change recommendations resonate with you as a citizen?
Support your ideas with examples you have experienced and
information you have read which bring you to a place of passion (or
compassion!) for one or more of the recommendations.