Molina Healthcare of Illinois Invests $1.6 Million to Improve Access to Health Care
"Through our partnership with Molina, PRISM is expanding the reach of our mobile immunization program, ensuring children across Chicagoland get the vaccines and preventive care they need to stay healthy,' said Zul Kapadia, president of PRISM Health. 'Molina's support allows us to bring our mobile clinic to 40 more schools and community sites, while helping us retain the health care workers who make this work possible. We're meeting families where they are and delivering care right to their doorstep."
Together with community partners, Molina is working to enhance and create programs designed to address community health needs, increase access to care, improve behavioral health and maternal health outcomes, strengthen the health care workforce, and support families in Illinois.
'Molina is dedicated to ensuring everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has access to the care and resources they need,' said Matt Wolf, plan president of Molina Healthcare of Illinois. 'These investments are designed to address health disparities by helping trusted community partners carry out their missions to improve access and health outcomes for our communities.'
Access to Care
In Illinois, nearly 17% of adults reported having no usual source of medical care. Furthermore, across Illinois, only 28.5% of residents received a flu shot while 21.5% of children ages 5-17 received a flu shot. Molina is committed to bridging gaps by bringing care directly to individuals who need it, helping increase vaccine rates and improve health outcomes. Through this investment, Molina is supporting a mobile health program, enhancing immunization access for both adults and children, and bringing vaccines directly to schools.
Behavioral Health
Illinois faces significant and persistent gaps in its behavioral health system, with nearly 40% of Illinoisans living in a designated mental health professional shortage area. To address the shortage of behavioral health care, Molina is supporting initiatives that enable uninsured and underinsured individuals to access mental health care and increase the capacity of local providers to deliver care.
Maternal Health
Molina is committed to improving maternal health and addressing disparities so that mothers and babies can have a healthy start. Black women are more than twice as likely to die from a pregnancy-related condition and three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related medical conditions than white women. Molina is investing in initiatives to improve maternal health outcomes by increasing access to doulas, which have been shown to lower rates of cesarean delivery, reduce the risk of preterm birth, and increase postpartum visits.
Health-Related Social Needs
Data shows that health-related social needs, including housing, food, transportation, and economic security play a critical role in shaping health outcomes for individuals and communities. Molina's partnerships aim to address social needs that impact health by supporting free laundry services, increasing access to food, and improving housing stability.
Workforce Development
Molina's partnerships aim to enhance the provider workforce in communities across Illinois by providing education and training opportunities for providers and supporting programs that are building a sustainable pipeline of physicians. Approximately 89 of Illinois' 102 counties are designated as health professional shortage areas, disproportionately impacting low-income and rural residents.
About The MolinaCares Accord
Established by Molina Healthcare, Inc., The MolinaCares Accord oversees a community investment platform created to improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations by funding meaningful, measurable, and innovative programs and solutions that improve health, life, and living in local communities. The MolinaCares Accord funds such measures through the Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) established in 2020 by Molina Healthcare, Inc.
About Molina Healthcare of Illinois
Molina Healthcare of Illinois, Inc. provides government-funded, quality health care, serving members through Medicaid, Medicare, and Marketplace programs in Illinois. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, provides managed health care services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs, and through state insurance marketplaces. For more information about Molina Healthcare of Illinois, visit MolinaHealthcare.com.
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