Healthcare Access

The Healthcare Access Workgroup reviewed the Urban Institute Upward Mobility Framework, aligning their work with the pillar Healthy Environment and Access to Good Healthcare. Upward Mobility Framework | Urban Institute | Upward Mobility Initiative Members finalized two CHIP goals focused on strengthening connections to healthcare services and improving understanding of how the healthcare system works.

Finalized CHIP Goals:

• Draft Goal 1: Increase community members’ connection to healthcare services.
• Draft Goal 2: Increase understanding of the healthcare system among community members, healthcare workers, organizations, and decision-makers.

Populations of Focus:

• Pregnant individuals, people experiencing mental health challenges, and populations surrounding Goal 2: community members, healthcare workers, organizations, and decision-makers
• Proposed populations to consider: children without a medical home and underserved populations

Discussion Highlights:

• Barriers: Health system complexity, lack of trust, insurance challenges, difficulty finding providers accepting Medicaid/uninsured patients
• Strategies: School-based health centers, improved referral systems, health literacy education

Data presented highlighted disparities in prenatal care access, maternal mortality, and infant mortality rates in Sedgwick County.

Next Steps:

• SCHD staff will develop survey questions to better understand barriers community members face when navigating healthcare referral systems.

No workgroup meeting in March. Lens/co-chair meeting is scheduled for March 26th. The workgroup will meet next in April. For questions, email HealthCHIP@sedgwick.gov.