NY IPA Focuses on Social Determinants of Health

On August 6, health insurer MVP Health Care announced an affiliation with Alliance for Better Health to address so-called social determinants of health in the Albany, New York area. The newly formed independent practice association (IPA), Healthy Alliance Independent Practice Association, is one of the first IPAs in the U.S. to focus exclusively on social determinants of health – daily need items that can affect one’s health, such as food, shelter, and access to transportation.

Alliance for Better Health, formed in 2015 to participate in New York’s Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) program, “engages medical and social service providers in developing innovative solutions to promote the health of people and communities, with a goal of transforming the care delivery system into one that incentivizes health and prevention.” The new IPA currently includes 29 community-based organizations, including a homeless shelter, food pantry, and supportive housing center, as well as medical and behavioral health providers.

Over the next two years, the IPA will invest $800,000 in local not-for-profit community organizations. These funds are aimed at helping the organizations improve coordination through Unite Us, a technology platform designed for tracking and referrals between healthcare entities and community-based organizations.