Solution: Better Access

Helping Justice-Involved Individuals Access Better Care and Successfully Reenter Community

Closeup shot of an unrecognizable group of businesspeople joining their hands in a huddle

The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with almost two million people imprisoned in a variety of facilities, including state and federal prisons, local jails, and juvenile correctional facilities, according to the Prison Policy Initiative.1 Many experts have pointed to mass incarceration as a public health crisis because its effects extend beyond the walls of the prison itself, most notably to families and communities.2

Level Up Your TPL: Working to Enhance Medicaid Member Benefits and Maximize State Savings

In recent years, the Affordable Care Act and COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) Medicaid protections have expanded health insurance for millions of Americans, and many state Medicaid programs have experienced significant growth. While expanding Medicaid coverage has resulted in better healthcare for many, there may be health insurance benefits that Medicaid members are missing out … Read more

Work Without Limits FY23 “Year in Review” Report

WWL FY23 Year in Review

ForHealth Consulting’s Work Without Limits – a network of employers, educational institutions, employment service providers, state and federal agencies, individuals with disabilities, and their family members with a goal to increase the employment of people with disabilities until it is equal to those without disabilities – recently released their fiscal year 2023 (FY23) “Year in … Read more

Equity and Obesity Treatment — Expanding Medicaid-Covered Interventions

The New England Journal of Medicine logo

On June 22, 2023, Mohammad Dar, MD, part of ForHealth’s Office of Clinical Affairs, co-authored a perspective for The New England Journal of Medicine with UMass Chan Medical School Assistant Professor Hannah Stoops, MD, MPH, titled, “Equity and Obesity Treatment — Expanding Medicaid-Covered Interventions” about expanding coverage of obesity-management and treatment approaches. Click here to … Read more

Belonging in Nursing: An Interactive Conversation on BIPOC Nurse Experiences

Presented by: Belonging in Nursing: An Interactive Conversation on BIPOC Nurse Experiences Fawzi Belal, MS Washington Center for Nursing Hannah Hermanson, MPH ForHealth Consulting at UMass Chan Medical School June 13. 2023

On June 13, 2023, ForHealth Consulting’s Hannah Hermanson, MPH, project management consultant, presented “Belonging in Nursing: An Interactive Conversation on BIPOC Nurse Experiences” at the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers’ annual conference (June 12-14) in Washington, DC, along with Fawzi Belal, MS, diversity, equity, and inclusion associate from the Washington Center for Nursing. … Read more

ForHealth Consulting Conference Unites Medical Interpreters from Across the Country

Flavia Perry, director of interpreter services at the Center for Health Impact (forefront). Front row kneeling from left to right: Silvana Kirby, director of the medical program at Berkshire Area Health Education Center & Diego Marroquin, medical interpreter. Last row from left to right: Laisson DeSouza, assistant director of interpreter services at the Center for Health Impact; Gricelle Cruz, medical interpreter; Bindiya Jha, interpreter training manager at Found in Translation; Elena Langdon, director of MasterWord Institute and of training & assessments at MasterWord; and Lisa Morris, director of cross cultural initiatives at ForHealth Consulting.

The Massachusetts Medical Interpreter Training program at ForHealth Consulting at UMass Chan Medical School recently hosted the virtual “Paving the Way to Health Care Access Conference 2023” on May 19 and 20. The annual conference emphasizes the important role of trained medical interpreters as communication facilitators in a patient-centered healthcare system. The two-day conference hosted … Read more

Recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month: Meeting Our Workforce’s Needs

In the past few years, a bigger spotlight has shone on the importance of mental health as part of our overall health. In fact, a 2018 study by the National Council for Well-being found that most Americans (76%) believe mental health is just as important as physical health. Despite this increased awareness, the study revealed … Read more

Addressing the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Children and Youth

Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week (May 7-13) is a good opportunity to reflect on the increasing mental health challenges faced by children and youth. These trends have a ripple effect on families, as children’s mental health issues impact their parents’ health, work, and general wellbeing. Mental health issues are pervasive in our country. More than … Read more

ACCJH Hosts Successful 16th Conference on Correctional Health in April

From left to right: Patti Onorato, MS, ANP, Deputy Executive Vice Chancellor for Operations; Warren J. Ferguson, MD, Professor and Senior Vice Chair of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health and Director of Academic Programs, Health, and Criminal Justice Program at UMass Chan Medical School; Dyana Nickl, JD, Deputy Managing Director of Justice, Health, & Equity; Lisa Colombo, DNP, MHA, RN, Executive Vice Chancellor; and Meaghan Dupuis, LMHC, Executive Director of Justice, Health, & Equity.

The 16th Academic & Health Policy Conference on Correctional Health recently took place on April 13-14 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Hosted by the Academic Consortium on Criminal Justice Health (ACCJH) and supported by ForHealth Consulting™ at UMass Chan Medical School, the event highlights emerging research and policy across the justice field and brings together researchers, … Read more

Closing the Coverage Gaps: Reducing Health Insurance Disparities in Massachusetts

Closing the Coverage Gaps: Reducing Health Insurance Disparities in Massachusetts APRIL 2023

Massachusetts’ health insurance coverage for its residents has been historically excellent, with the lowest uninsurance rate in the country of 3% in 2019. However, over the previous 12 months, 7.3% of the state’s population experienced a gap in health coverage, with Black, Hispanic, and lower socioeconomic groups experiencing significantly higher rates of uninsurance than the … Read more

Quality Healthcare for All: Recognizing National Minority Health Month

By the ForHealth Consulting™ at UMass Chan Medical School Cultural Diversity Committee Please note: We will be modeling our language under the guidance of recent scientific literature and National Minority Health Month web communications.1,2 However, we recognize that the term “minority” is not often preferred by the populations being described.3 “Better Health through Better Understanding,” … Read more

National Public Health Week: Ensuring all Voices are Heard

This week, our country honors the importance of public health in our communities. Taking place April 3-9, National Public Health Week 2023 focuses on “Centering and Celebrating Cultures in Health,” highlighting how the connection to our community and culture impacts our health and well-being. Unfortunately, profound racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare have long been … Read more