More than 100 participants from across Texas met in Houston, June 17-18 to consider the "business case" for employing CHWs and consider strategies to move the state forward.  Employers, CHWs, State and federal officials and other stakeholders heard a rousing call to action ("Why CHWs?") from Eduardo Sanchez, MD, MPH, former Texas health commissioner and now chief medical officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. 

Dr. Sanchez also served as responder to a panel of five health care employers presenting their own compelling evidence of a positive "return on investment" from employing CHWs. According to conference organizers, publicizing such previously unpublished data, and collecting employer testimonials, will be a key future activity.

On the second day, Gail Hirsch, director of the Office of CHWs in the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, presented her State's rationale for enhanced CHW workforce policy and the Massachusetts approach to comprehensive policy change.

Participants committed to support of independent local and statewide associations of CHWs and agreed to organize themselves for future actions under the umbrella of the Texas Public Health Association, which has offered to create a "CHW Workforce Section."  Other action priorities include consideration of a Medicaid waiver for CHW reimbursement and inclusion of CHW services as medical costs in calculating "medical loss ratios" for health insurers.  For more information contact Carl Rush (carl@chrllc.net).