The community health worker model for cardiovascular kidney metabolic syndrome: A new paradigm for high value care

Access and adherence to prevention and therapeutic lifestyle change programs remain largely aspirational for many low resource and minority communities. Given the importance of prevention and the high cost of care in complex medical conditions such as cardiovascular kidney and metabolic syndrome (CKM), new models of care delivery that enhance value are needed. Community health workers (CHWs) may serve as an innovative link between healthcare systems and the community, improving last mile delivery of services for “at risk” community members through education, outreach, informal counseling, social service support, and advocacy. The impending new Center for Medicare Medicaid Services (CMS) reimbursements for Community Health Integration, Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) assessment, and Principal Illness Navigation services in medically necessary care, represents a major shift in reimbursement models. In this review, we explore four overarching barriers to widespread adoption of CHWs, current roles of CHWs in CKM care, including outcomes and data confirming economic viability and sustainability of engaging CHW's in CKM care. We explore problems with existing financial models for CHW involvement, and forthcoming reimbursement pathways and solutions. CHW's are frontline health workers who could be critical in enhancing value for CKM. However current reimbursement models and restructuring of payments needs to occur rapidly to embrace a new cadre of health workers in our fight against adverse CKM health.