BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK / AGILITYPR.NEWS / May 14, 2024 / Leading the way in innovation in the Southern Tier Region, Care Compass Network Implements Unite Us’ closed-loop referral platform to connect vulnerable and marginalized populations with critical social care services.

Care Compass Network (Care Compass), a leading innovative organization working to transform health and social care delivery in the Southern Tier, and Unite Us, the nation’s trusted technology partner for social care transformation, have announced they will be deploying Unite Us capabilities to Care Compass member organizations to better streamline the coordination of social care services in the Southern Tier region. Utilizing Unite Us referral and payments technology, Care Compass and its member organizations will be better able to focus on providing care through a person-centered approach ensuring critical health and social needs are met, and improving the health and well-being of the community.  

Care Compass will provide access to the Unite Us platform to all member organizations that provide clinical or social care services which will measure success based on regional improved health outcomes across the Southern Tier region of New York. Unite Us’ functionality will transform the healthcare landscape by helping to better coordinate services and will be central in the support and coordination of current and future Care Compass programs.

Using Unite Us, Care Compass and its network of community organizations, clinical providers, hospital systems, government agencies, and mental health/behavioral health providers will be able to send and receive secure electronic referrals, track outcomes, and reimburse community organizations for delivering critical services. Individuals with health-related social needs (HRSNs) can connect to organizations specializing in various services including mental health, food, housing, and transportation. This streamlined approach to care coordination results in more seamless, proactive management of whole-person health to ensure that needs are met and with measurable outcomes. 

“As we have all experienced, managing health and wellness for yourself or a loved one can be a complicated and at times confusing task”, Mark Ropiecki, Executive Director of Care Compass Network. “What most people might not realize, is how difficult it can also be for organizations to coordinate needed services, especially if they haven’t previously worked together. As the healthcare delivery system evolves, this new support system is critical to help connect people to the resources that exist in our community. The Unite Us referral platform has been adopted on a large scale in North Carolina and other states and offers a proven solution for the Southern Tier.”

"Joining forces with Care Compass, we're thrilled to enhance the referral process for those in need in the Southern Tier while empowering community-based organizations to receive reimbursement for vital services provided under the NYS Health Equity Reform 1115 Waiver," said Marc Natale, New York State Director of Community and Customer Success at Unite Us. "This collaboration will seamlessly link individuals to our accountable network of social care services, bolstering their access to essential health and social care and improving overall health outcomes."

Care Compass worked with Unite Us to ensure that the regional closed-loop referral platform complies with the requirements of New York State, such as the recently released NYS Health Equity Reform 1115 waiver that will create new Medicaid services, called enhanced services, to eligible individuals in early 2025. Care Compass will begin system implementation with member organizations in the Southern Tier region as early as the second quarter of 2024.

About Care Compass Network (Care Compass)

Care Compass is a not-for-profit, community organization formed in 2015 to advance the transformation of health care delivery through the development and convening of strong and resilient partnerships, the coordination of care, and the reduction of health care expenses. Care Compass convenes and collaborates with over 130 organizations, including hospital systems, community-based organizations, social care/human service providers, skilled nursing facilities, behavioral health and substance use disorder programs, local county governments, and higher education systems.