The new network seeks to break down barriers between clinical and social care to better address member’s socioeconomic needs in the Philadelphia area.
Independence Blue Cross and Signify Health recently announced their partnership in the launch of CommunityLink, a network of community-based organizations (CBOs) throughout the Philadelphia region, with the expectation for more to join in the future. The partnership marks the first community-based network in the nation to combine the management of social determinants of health (SDoH) with in-home health visits.
CommunityLink will combine the CBOs with Independence’s registered nurse health coaches and Signify’s social care coordinators to synchronize care for Medicare Advantage members struggling with SDoH, such as food insecurity, access to housing, and transportation. Signify will facilitate the in-home visits to capture the member’s “whole-person” health, which will be documented within the new network.
The CommunityLink network will allow Independence and CBOs the ability to track a member’s health needs and their interactions with social and clinical providers and community organizations over time. “By using Signify Health's privacy-enabled collaboration platform, organizations can leverage CommunityLink to safely and securely collaborate, share, and track an individual's whole-health needs longitudinally across different care settings to address their social determinants of health,” said Signify Health and Independence Blue Cross in the announcement.
In 2021, the network will also enable clinicians and other health care providers to refer patients as well.
"Our goal is to create the opportunity for more healthy, happy days in the home by providing health care and social support services wherever and whenever they're needed most,” said Kyle Armbrester, CEO, Signify Health, in the announcement. “This initiative will help address health inequalities and gaps in care and lift up the quality of life for the individuals we are privileged to serve every day."