Program marks 20 years serving Delawareans in need
The Medical Society of Delaware has renewed its contract with the Division of Public Health to continue the Voluntary Initiative Program into fiscal year 2022. June 11 marked the 20th consecutive year that MSD has served the community in this capacity.
VIP is administered by MSD and supported by the Delaware Foundation for Medical Services, a charitable foundation of MSD.
The Voluntary Initiative Program is part of the Health Care Connection, a state-funded program that helps coordinate charitable medical services by physicians and provides additional health service resources for patients. Physician participation adds value and improves medical outcomes for patients enrolled in HCC. Enrolled HCC participants receive discounted medical services based on their income.
Specifically, the HCC links uninsured Delawareans who meet specific criteria with a medical home and specialty care. In addition, the program provides care coordination and health navigation services to assist patients through the continuum of care. Health promotion advocates are in place to educate clients about healthy lifestyle behaviors such as physical activity, proper nutrition and tobacco use cessation, as well as to ensure clients enrolled in HCC obtain appropriate cancer screenings. HPAs refer Delawareans to community resources for which they may be eligible for or have a need.
“The partnership between DPH and MSD has been invaluable to ensure patients are obtaining the resources they so desperately need. This program establishes a continuity of care for patients that is critical in improving health outcomes over the long term,” said Dr. Karyl Rattay, Division of Public Health director.
Professional external evaluation of the program has shown that patients:
- Increase their rate for completion of preventive screenings
- Reduce the use of emergency department services
- Lower their length of hospital stays
- Improve their management of chronic diseases
- Self-report increased satisfaction with their healthcare
- Utilize no-cost or discounted ancillary services such as pharmacy assistance, laboratory services, radiology or physical therapy.
As of February 2021, more than 70,700 low-income uninsured individuals have been identified and assisted through the VIP. In addition, over 4,000 were enrolled in a public insurance program.
“The Medical Society of Delaware is proud and honored to celebrate the 20th anniversary of partnering with the State of Delaware to provide this critically important safety net program for access to care for such a vulnerable population. This initiative is vital in connecting those who don’t have access to health insurance to primary care, specialists, and prescription medicine,” said Matthew Burday, DO, Medical Society of Delaware president.
