CareFirst Community Health Plan of Maryland Partners with Fabric Health to Provide Care Coordination in Laundromats
Innovative Community Partnership Expands Where and When CareFirst Members Receive Care Coordination Services
Baltimore – Today, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst), one of the largest not-for-profit healthcare organizations in the country, announced a partnership with Fabric Health to embed English and Spanish-speaking care coordinators in community laundromats. Fabric Health will be at laundromats to connect CareFirst Community Health Plan Maryland (CHPMD) members and non-members to high-quality benefits and services according to their needs and preferences.
“The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted people’s ability to seek preventive care,” said Mike Rapach, President & CEO of CareFirst CHPMD. “By meeting people where they are, in the time they have, Fabric Health is able to support the health and wellbeing of the Medicaid population.”
The partnership will start at laundromats in Prince George’s County and Montgomery County, prioritizing zip codes with the largest health disparities. “By meeting families at laundromats where they already are, we turn a weekly chore into meaningful time to get, understand and use CareFirst CHPMD benefits,” said Allister Chang, Co-Founder of Fabric Health.
“Through this pilot, CareFirst members will gain new access points to learn about benefits and services available to them, including help scheduling yearly check-ups with primary care providers and enrolling in maternal health programs,” said Sheila Yahyazadeh, Chief External Operations Officer, CareFirst CHPMD.
In addition to providing care coordination services, Fabric Health will be at laundromats to help families submit their redetermination for Medicaid coverage before the next due date. The partnership launches during the “unwinding” of the continuous enrollment condition authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), during which over 234,000 Marylanders have been disenrolled from their coverage, mostly for procedural reasons. More information about the end of continuous coverage and Medicaid renewals can be found at https://dhs.maryland.gov/medicaid-unwinding/.
In partnering laundromats, Fabric Health will also conduct social drivers of health (SDOH) screeners and connect families to relevant SDOH-related resources, including help applying for public benefits, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
About CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
In its 86th year of service, CareFirst, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is a not-for-profit healthcare company which, through its affiliates and subsidiaries, offers a comprehensive portfolio of health insurance products and administrative services to 3.5 million individuals and employers in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. In 2022, CareFirst invested $24.1 million to improve overall health, and increase the accessibility, affordability, safety and quality of healthcare throughout its market areas. To learn more about CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, visit www.carefirst.com.
About Fabric Health
Fabric Health is a benefit corporation providing trusted, last-mile engagement in laundromats while families wait every week. For more information, visit www.fabrichealth.org.