Richard Umbdenstock Discusses Importance of Community Collaboration with the Newly Insured

Richard Umbdenstock, president and chief executive officer, American Hospital Association, says that many Americans who are newly insured have not had a high level of interaction with the healthcare system. Some people in this patient population might not even know that there are opportunities to engage with members in their community.

“Where ever that point of contact is, we need to be in collaboration with those entities so that initial contact is made,” says Mr Umbdenstock. “Some communities have decided to go about the navigator and enrollment process on a community basis, so it’s out where the people are and not waiting or somebody to come into a hospital.”

He adds that stakeholders can broaden their reach more effectively by engaging with people within their communities.