The NC Alliance of YMCAs and YMCA of the Triangle hosted a Health Innovations Roundtable November 4, 2024, at the Southeast Raleigh YMCA, bringing together Dr. Mandy Cohen, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Kody Kinsley, secretary of the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), and Suzanne McCormick, president and CEO of YMCA of the USA.
North Carolina and national health partners joined for the discussion highlighting how the Y and its partners address health-related social needs to ensure access to services that can transform health outcomes.
Christy Colgan, Director, Strategy of Drivers of Health for Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina (BCBS NC), shared details of a four-year collaborative pilot between BCBS NC and the YMCA of the Triangle as part of the discussion. In the pilot funded by BCBS NC, patients were referred to the Y by a physician, typically as the result of a health diagnosis, such as pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, the risk of falls due to age or illness, or adult and child weight management. Referred patients benefitted from a Y Health membership with a bundle of three services—a YMCA membership, participation in an evidence-based health program and health coaching.
“The potential for medical expense net savings is being evaluated and the results will provide insight into the scalability of payor reimbursements of Y health programs and services,” Colgan said.
Among 3,693 Y health participants, 74% met their health goals. YMCA evidence-based health programs include the Diabetes Prevention Program, Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring Program, Moving for Better Balance, Weight Loss, Healthy Weight and Your Child and the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA.
Other roundtable participants included:
- NC Alliance of YMCAs CEO Sherée Vodicka,
- NCDHHS State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson,
- U.S Representative Deborah Ross, NC District 2,
- U.S. Representative Wiley Nickel, NC District 13,
- YMCA of the USA Chief Health Officer Gloria Winters, DPT, and
- YMCA of the Triangle VP of Healthy Living Susan Pettengill.
Local, state and national partners attended, including these insurance leaders:
• Aetna Director of Sales, Mid-South Adam Boger
• Healthy Blue CEO Angela Boykin
• UnitedHealthcare CEO Anita Bachmann
• UnitedHealthcare Chief Medical Officer Derrick Hoover, MD
• Wellcare Director of Tailored Plans & Foster Care Nicole Six
“Protecting health and improving lives is a collaborative effort that requires all of us to come together as a united team,” said CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen. “At CDC, we are committed to partnerships that prioritize shared goals and clear responsibilities. By aligning our efforts and sharing data, we can effectively address pressing health challenges like youth mental health and the overdose crisis."
Data shows that 80% of health outcomes are determined by what happens in the community and 20% by what happens in a doctor’s office. “Whether you have access to healthy food, physical activity, housing, a job and a good education has a bigger impact on your health,” NC Alliance of YMCAs CEO Sherée Vodicka said. “Yet, in the United States, we invest less than 3% of every dollar in preventative health care. We know the return on investment in prevention is significant. We need our partners to collaborate with us to improve the health of North Carolinians and move our state from 30th in the nation in health to first in the nation.”
“In North Carolina, we are investing in social drivers of health through a growing ecosystem of community-based organizations—and it is working—we’re seeing a reduction of hospitalizations, improved health, and meaningful savings,” said Secretary Kinsley. “Caring for people’s health means prioritizing their well-being long before they enter a hospital exam room.”