MDwise, a health maintenance organization serving more than 410,000 Hoosiers on Healthy Indiana Plan, Hoosier Healthwise and Medicare Advantage, announced on Tuesday a new partnership with Cityblock Health, a value-based healthcare provider for Medicaid, dually eligible and lower-income Medicare beneficiaries, to bring comprehensive, personalized care to approximately 10,000 Hoosiers.
Cityblock delivers medical care, behavioral health, and social services to individuals from historically underserved and marginalized communities, in particular those with complex needs. This personalized care includes 24/7 access to multi-modal care delivery, with doctors and other clinical and non-clinical caregivers treating patients in their homes and community settings, via telehealth or at local Cityblock hubs. Cityblock’s members in existing markets have experienced meaningful reductions in emergency department visits and inpatient admissions, and overall improvements in engagement.
“MDwise is excited to partner with Cityblock to bring their innovative value-based approach and proven outcomes to Indiana,” MDwise President and CEO Jessica Cromer said. “Our most vulnerable members can be the hardest to reach, but we will be relentless in providing our members access to great healthcare to improve their health outcomes and quality of life.”
Operating on the premise that health is local and personal, Cityblock provides services to community members with the highest levels of need, many of whom have experienced poor access to effective health services and who are at risk for disproportionately poor overall health outcomes. By deploying a multi-faceted approach that integrates physical, behavioral, and social care services, Cityblock engages and earns the trust of those who have historically been underserved by the healthcare system.
A key component of Cityblock’s model is the multidisciplinary care team, which includes Community Health Partners hired from the communities in which they serve. Community Health Partners work directly with members on individualized care plans and identify potential barriers to health, such as access to nutritious food and stable housing. Through this model and by recognizing all components that comprise health and well-being, Cityblock improves the health outcomes of the members they serve.
“We share MDwise’s belief that every person deserves access to high-quality, compassionate care,” Cityblock CEO and Co-founder Dr. Toyin Ajayi said. “We are proud to partner with MDwise and Indiana’s local organizations, healthcare providers and behavioral health specialists to deliver comprehensive care, improve health outcomes, and drive access to truly equitable healthcare for those who need it the most.”
The partnership is expected to result in approximately 140 new clinical and non-clinical jobs within the state, 100 during the first year alone.