Transforming Medicaid: How Chorus Community Health Plans is Tackling SDOH

What if your health plan’s biggest opportunity to improve outcomes wasn’t in a hospital or clinic—but in a home, a grocery store, or a child’s support system?

Mark Rakowski, President of Chorus Community Health Plans (CCHP) and Senior Vice President of Children's Wisconsin, joins Eric to explore the plan’s innovative approach to social determinants of health. 

 

From its Housing Navigator Program and Foodsmart initiative to its groundbreaking mental health strategy,  CCHP is driving better health, lowering costs, and achieving remarkable results—including a 70% treatment adherence rate among Medicaid members.

 

If you’re a healthcare leader looking for scalable, high-impact strategies to address social determinants of health and improve member outcomes, this episode is a must-listen!

 

About CCHP

Chorus Community Health Plans, which is owned by Children’s Wisconsin – the state’s only health care system dedicated 100% to children and teens, is focused on improving the health and well-being of its members by providing access to a broad network of health services and providers, as well as prevention programs. CCHP is the second-largest Medicaid health plan in the state. The plan serves 150,000 Medicaid members in 28 counties in eastern Wisconsin. In 2017, CCHP began offering individual and family plans in the Marketplace in southeastern Wisconsin, and the plan has now expanded to 15 counties in eastern Wisconsin, covering 15,000 members in 2022.

 

About Mark 

Mark is responsible for the health plan's overall operation. He directs the development of strategies and budgets, negotiates contracts and ensures compliance. In addition to these roles, Mark oversees the contractual relationship with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and monitors and influences state and local healthcare policy.

 

Mark is also actively involved in the Children’s Wisconsin strategic plan to improve children’s health in Wisconsin. The plan focuses on increasing access to preventive services, addressing social drivers of health, and partnering with providers to improve care coordination.

Mark joined Children’s Wisconsin and the CCHP team in 1999 as director of managed care. 

 

Before that, he had 11 years of experience in healthcare-managed care roles. Mark earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater and a master’s in accounting from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. 

In 2010, Mark was recognized as a notable health care hero by BizTimes Milwaukee, which was an advancement in healthcare. 

 

Bright Spots in Healthcare is produced by Bright Spots Ventures

Bright Spots Ventures brings healthcare leaders together to share working solutions or "bright spots" to common challenges. We build valuable and meaningful relationships through our Bright Spots in Healthcare podcast, webinar series, leadership councils, customized peer events, and sales and go-to-market consulting. We believe finding a bright spot and cloning it is the most effective strategy to improve healthcare in our lifetime.

 

Visit our website at www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com