Worcester Business Journal

6 Worcester Business Journal | January 23, 2023 | wbjournal.com Solving health care's inequities PHOTOS | COURTESY OF COMMONWEALTH MEDICINE BY ISABEL TEHAN WBJ Staff Writer I n its quest to identify and address healthcare inequities, Commonwealth Medicine, the healthcare consulting arm of UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, has created the new position of associate executive vice chancellor, market growth, and transformation. Filling the role is Kaha Hizanishvili, former chief of provider and pharmacy programs at MassHealth. As healthcare inequities remain a persistent and pressing issue, the identification of ways the healthcare system can make future-focused moves to address them is top-of-mind at Commonwealth Medicine. e new position and its goals, part of UMass Chan's strategic plan, are intended to respond to the marked changes in the healthcare landscape and identify ways to move forward. Much of Hizanishvili's previous work was focused on extending the Medicaid dollar in Massachusetts, and though that will be a perspective he brings to Commonwealth Medicine, a large part of the focus of the new role is about expanding healthcare access and equity. "When we talk about savings, what that really means is it goes well beyond dollars saved," Hizanishvili said. "at translates to better access, better coverage, more services provided." A primary focus for Commonwealth Medicine and of this added role is finding and addressing gaps preventing human services clients from providing the necessarily equitable healthcare, said Lisa Colombo, executive vice chancellor for Commonwealth Medicine at UMass Chan. "In multicultural communities like Worcester, there are cultural norms in different backgrounds," said Colombo. "We don't always understand very well how they access care." Disadvantaged communities are now the focus, said Colombo. During the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, ways in which cultural groups in the region were interacting with medicine became clearer, she said, citing vaccine hesitancy as one example. One challenge locally, particular to the pandemic but pointing to a larger trend, said Colombo, is misunderstanding how certain cultural groups interact with the healthcare system. Cultural norms dictate how people access healthcare, and it's a priority for Commonwealth Medicine and this new position to identify these norms, understand them, and respond to them in a way that increases healthcare utilization. Prioritizing those with the greatest needs Commonwealth Medicine, which has 1,100 employees and partners with other health and human services organizations as clients, operates across the state and collaborates nationally, but being based at the medical school in Worcester means it is specifically attuned to issues in Central Massachusetts. e main issues preventing accessible health care in the region, said Colombo, are related to underserved populations, whether the reason they are underserved is socioeconomic, geographic, or due to mental health issues or the lack of adequate health insurance. "e way we want to deliver care might not be a perfect match," she said, "but we work really hard to try to meet them where they are." Hizanishvili will be tasked in the role with finding tangible ways to do so for groups with varying needs. "It's certainly not a one-size-fits-all solution," said Colombo, "because there are differing disparities in each community." Cost savings can't be the only focus, said Lauren Peters, former undersecretary for health policy for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, who in her role partnered closely with Commonwealth Medicine on state initiatives. Now executive director of the Center for Health Information and Analysis, Peters stressed the importance of work adding value to the healthcare system, particularly with behavioral health. "Behavioral health has been underinvested in, and increased access and bolstered service lines are needed," said Peters. Additional priorities for healthcare and human Commonwealth Medicine has hired a MassHealth executive to address the most pressing needs in health care "When we talk about savings, what that really means is it goes well beyond dollars saved. That translates to better access, better coverage, more services provided." Kaha Hizanishvili, associate vice chancellor, market growth, and transformation at Commonwealth Medicine

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