Partnership Aims to Improve Health Equity with Clinical Intervention

In order to address various clinical health disparities, Humana partnered with a healthcare consulting firm and one of Humana’s primary care provider networks to introduce health equity training.

Through a variety of services, Humana aims to provide care for those who are underserved, which includes assisting providers in optimizing their practices.

“Clinician-specific training on cultural humility and implicit bias with an orientation around the patient’s experience is one of many steps to deliver on whole person care and embed a health equity lens into Humana products, services and partnerships,” said Dr. Nwando Olayiwola, Chief Health Equity Officer and Senior Vice President, Humana Inc, in a press release. “This partnership with Chartis is truly exciting and, to my knowledge, one of the first outcomes-focused cultural competency pilots by a health plan.”  

The payer conducted a competitive contracting process in order to identify its partner on this pilot. The program will upskill providers so that they can address the needs of a more diverse set of patients.

With the help of Chartis Just Health Collective, providers will gain the ability to recognize cultural humility and implicit bias, along with the effect they have on health equity. Humana noted that the future review process will evaluate the efficacy of the program based on cultural humility awareness, positive progress on bolstering patient trust and experience, and providers’ motivation to mitigate bias.

“This partnership will help clinicians unearth blind spots, and with that insight and awareness we’ll provide participants with strategies to mitigate bias and create more equitable care for members within Humana’s network.” said Duane Reynolds, President of Chartis Just Health Collective.

The pilot program will start in October 2022.

In the past, various efforts that aimed to improve health equity have been highly recognized. Organizations like the National Committee for Quality Assurance have started to issue awards to organizations that demonstrate outstanding progress in advancing health equity.

For example, an Aetna California Medicaid plan from August gained recognition from the NCQA for its efforts to improve health equity. The program specifically sought to implement culturally sensitive services, eliminate disparities, and improve overall equity.

Other payers have instituted programs for those who lack secure housing and have invested in raising up a generation of healthcare leaders who view healthcare through the lens of health equity.

In July, Health Net efforts to improve health equity led the organization to be considered an Institute for Medicaid Innovation (IMI). The IMI report detailed that the organization responded well to the pandemic, working wisely alongside various barriers that affected social health determinants.  

In May, Blue Shield of California began a program to assist underserved students as they enter the healthcare workforce. Accompanied by a large investment, the program helped those involved through data and analytics training.