HAN held a successful Policy Day on April 27th focusing on federal affordable housing programs: low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC), HOME program, and housing vouchers, as well as workforce development programs: Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG) and JOBS Act. We were thrilled to have 51 HAN health systems participate in the briefing, which represents 800 hospitals […]
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Health anchors ending chronic homelessness
HAN members CommonSpirit Health, Kaiser Permanente, Providence, Trinity Health, and UC Davis Health along with Sutter Health are participating in a three-year pilot to test how best to address the health risks that are connected to homelessness. The article details Kaiser Permanente’s and CommonSpirit Health’s strategies in this area. From the article: Two of the founding members of the network, Kaiser […]
Continue ReadingImpact investing: forward thinking that impacts the bottom line
HAN member UMass Memorial Health’s (UMMH) forward-thinking utilization of impact investing is spotlighted in an article focusing on how health systems are having to address upstream determinants of health because of the direct impact on hospital financial performance. UMMHC has pledged 1% ($4 million) of its unrestricted cash portfolio towards impact investing, as a signatory of the HAN Place-based Investing […]
Continue ReadingLeaning in on the anchor role to proactively address disparities
HAN member Intermountain Healthcare’s Nick Fritz, impact investing director, co-authored a commentary pointing out that all anchor institutions have a role to play in addressing the economic disparities that cause a wide range of hardships for lower-income families. The health system and Zions Bank are working on statewide initiatives to address inequality and expand opportunity including the creation […]
Continue ReadingInvesting in economic security and health
HAN member Kaiser Permanente’s Bechara Choucair, M.D. senior vice president and chief health officer, highlights that many individuals are suffering economic insecurity from the impacts of the pandemic, inflation, and long-standing income and wealth inequities. Dr. Choucair stresses that financial insecurity is the next great health crisis and that health systems that adopt the anchor mission are taking action […]
Continue ReadingAdvocate Aurora Health to distribute $1 million in loans to local businesses
HAN member Advocate Aurora Health is partnering with the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) to provide $1 million in loans to Milwaukee small businesses in need of support. From the video: This stemmed from Advocate Aurora Health’s $50 million commitment to addressing social determinants of health as part of the Healthcare Anchor Network, which includes dozens […]
Continue ReadingMassachusetts’ hospitals champion housing
HAN member UMass Memorial Health worked with a coalition to successfully advocate for the City of Worcester to invest approximately 20% of its ARPA funds for housing, including $15 million for a new Affordable Housing Trust Fund and funding for a variety of other initiatives such as housing rehabilitation, first time homeowner assistance, and “Housing First” homelessness […]
Continue ReadingHousing for Health advocacy at the local & national levels
HAN member M Health Fairview writes in The prescription for healthy communities: Investing in housing about the vital role safe and affordable housing plays in creating healthy communities. However, the need far surpasses the supply. The health system calls on the state of Minnesota to address this fundamental human need by scaling up investments. From the article: Right now, […]
Continue ReadingLocal government leadership by adopting the anchor mission
HAN member San Mateo County Health helped to spearhead the successful and unanimous adoption of a Resolution committing the County of San Mateo to the anchor institution framework and calling for the development of a plan for inclusive staffing, procurement, and investment to advance equity for the county. From the the testimony in support of the Resolution by HAN’s […]
Continue ReadingPower of partnership to meet changing workforce needs
HAN members AdventHealth, Henry Ford Health System (HFHS), and Intermountain Healthcare formed the Evolve Health Alliance with two other hospitals across the country to improve workforce needs. The alliance “will share human resources best practices on the well-being of employees, workforce data, implementation of diversity and inclusion programs, reciprocal agreements to help staffing and other functions.” From the article: […]
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