THE LARGER TREND
The ACL's challenge was born from the realization that providing community-based social services can reduce healthcare costs while improving health outcomes. With this challenge, the ACL is attempting to bridge medical care and social services to improve efficiency and outcomes.
The challenge will compete in three phases, with cash prizes awarded in each phase. The total prize pool available is $500,000.
Community-based referral programs are a common method used by healthcare organizations to address health inequalities. Independence Blue Cross and Signify Health recently launched CommunityLink, a community-based organization network targeting the social determinants of health in the Philadelphia region. Elsewhere, RWJBarnabas Health, in collaboration with NowPow and ConsejoSano, created the Health Beyond the Hospital program that refers patients to community-based services.