Denver Health CEO Discusses Housing Program for Medicaid, Uninsured Patients
Denver Health CEO Donna Lynne describes the health system's Housing Outreach, Partnerships and Engagement (HOPE) program, which provides 34 apartments to patients experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. The program, which won the 2026 AHA Dick Davidson NOVA Award, includes 20 recuperative care units with average 2-3 day stays and 14 longer-term apartments for up to six months. Denver Health serves a patient population that is 47% Medicaid and 15% uninsured; the program reduces length of stay and readmissions for homeless patients, who typically stay 2.5 times longer than housed patients. The health system partners with Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and Denver Housing Authority to transition patients to permanent housing.
Medicaid MCOs face growing pressure to address social determinants of health and manage total cost of care; Denver Health's program demonstrates a replicable model for reducing avoidable utilization and improving outcomes for high-cost, housing-insecure members through clinical-housing partnerships.
Managed Care · Behavioral Health
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