CareSource Partners with MetroHealth Foundation to Address Social Determinants of Health

Health insurer’s $600,000 donation to jumpstart Institute for H.O.P.E.^TM programming

(DAYTON, OH – January 6, 2021) – CareSource announced today a partnership with the MetroHealth Foundation and a donation of $600,000 to fund programming within the Institute for H.O.P.E.^TM The programming will include innovations such as, the School Health Program and Food as Medicine Clinic.  The overall goal of this partnership is to provide additional support and benefits to children and famliies who have emerging or existing chronic health conditions.

The partnership will expand the focus on social determinants of health (SDoH) to specifically screen CareSource members and other community members who are at the highest risk for gaps in SDoH. Once identified, the patients will be connected with longstanding Cleveland community partners for assistance. 

“Our partnership with the MetroHealth Foundation is a clear fit for the CareSource mission and enhances our clinical outcomes by creating a holistic model of care,” said Dr. Dale Block, Market Chief Medical Officer, Ohio. “By providing a path to identify possible chronic health risks of early and then working with community partners on solutions, we can stop the cycle of generational health conditions.”

When up to 80% of a person’s health depends on factors that occur outside of the walls of a hospital or medical clinic, social determinants of health is critical for the overall health of members. They include safe housing, adequate food, socialization, employment and transportation. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these factors. Since committing to screening for social determinants of health through the Institute for H.O.P.E., MetroHealth has screened over 30,000 patients and connected many with social service referrals in Cuyahoga county.

“This contribution from CareSource will result in a healthier Greater Cleveland, including increased immunizations for students we serve, nutritious food for our neighbors, and increased emphasis factors that shape our community’s health,” said Susan Fuehrer, President of the Institute for H.O.P.E. “Investing this money on preventive care keeps people healthier and out of the hospital, which is the best outcome for everyone.”

CareSource is a leader in promoting equity in healthcare and breaking down the barriers of SDoH for their members.  Amid the pandemic, CareSource has continued their transportation partnership with Lyft, funded wireless internet to increase digital equity and supported food accessibility for seniors.

About The MetroHealth System

The MetroHealth System, Cuyahoga County’s public health system, is honoring its commitment to create a healthier community by building a new hospital on its main campus in Cleveland. The building and the 25 acres of green space around it are catalyzing the revitalization of MetroHealth’s West Side neighborhood.

MetroHealth broke ground on its new hospital in 2019. The project is being financed with nearly $1 billion the system borrowed on its own credit after dramatically improving its finances. In the past five years, MetroHealth’s operating revenue has increased by 40% and its number of employees by 21%. Today, its staff of 8,000 provides care at MetroHealth’s four hospitals, four emergency departments and more than 20 health centers and 40 additional sites throughout Cuyahoga County. In the past year, MetroHealth has served 300,000 patients at more than 1.4 million visits in its hospitals and health centers, 75% of whom are uninsured or covered by Medicare or Medicaid.

The health system is home to Cuyahoga County’s most experienced Level I Adult Trauma Center, verified since 1992, and Ohio’s only adult and pediatric trauma and burn center.

As an academic medical center, MetroHealth is committed to teaching and research. Each active staff physician holds a faculty appointment at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Its main campus hospital houses a Cleveland Metropolitan School District high school of science and health.

For more information, visit metrohealth.org.