Donor Stories: UnitedHealthcare Collaboration Advances Programs that Address Social Determinants of Health

UnitedHealthcare’s partnership with MetroHealth is providing $500,000 in funding to help expand two programs addressing social determinants of health for underserved populations in the greater Cleveland area. The three-year collaboration, which began in 2020, expands initiatives targeted at high-risk pregnant mothers and medically complex patient populations. Both programs – the Mom & Baby Bundle program for high-risk pregnant women and their infants, and the Red Carpet Care program for medically-complex patients or frequent emergency room visitors – provide or connect participants to wrap-around services such as housing support and food assistance, as well as financial and employment resources to improve health outcomes.

Each program is increasing the number of patients they are able to serve. In addition, the collaboration is enabling MetroHealth to track patient outcomes and identify the causes of poor outcomes. The two organizations are working together to design and test effective care management strategies based on program findings, which will have a direct impact on many of UnitedHealthcare’s Medicaid members in the Cleveland area.

“The need for payer and provider partnerships to address the health needs of the underserved has never been more evident,” said Mike Roaldi, chief executive officer, UnitedHealthcare Community & State Ohio. “The COVID-19 pandemic has required all of us to step up our support services and come together for the sake of community health.

“We are committed to helping drive better health outcomes for underserved populations in Ohio and are grateful to partners like MetroHealth for their commitment to a mission we both share.”