{"id":8770,"date":"2025-05-21T00:00:13","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T04:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uniteustailstg.wpengine.com\/?post_type=press&p=8770"},"modified":"2025-08-14T10:49:59","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T14:49:59","slug":"ballad-health-study","status":"publish","type":"press","link":"https:\/\/uniteus.com\/press\/ballad-health-study\/","title":{"rendered":"Study: Ballad Health Reduces Emergency Department Visits by Nearly 25%, Saves $68 PMPM with Unite Us"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ballad Health achieved an estimated $68.80 per member per month savings by using Unite Us\u2019 closed-loop referral system to provide integrated care.<\/em><\/h2>\n

NEW YORK, <\/strong>MAY 21<\/strong>, 2025 \u2013 <\/strong>\u00a0A newly released study<\/a> analyzed the financial impacts and health outcomes that result when community health workers (CHWs) refer patients to services within their community using Unite Us<\/a>\u2019 closed-loop referral system. Connecting patients with support ranging from healthcare navigation to food assistance reduced emergency department (ED) visits by nearly 25% among patients with documented health-related social needs (HRSNs) or non-medical needs. This generated an estimated annualized cost savings of $825,600 per 1,000 patients\u2014or $68.80 per member per month (PMPM).<\/p>\n

The study was a collaboration among Ballad Health<\/a>, Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association<\/a> (VHHA), Institute for Public Health Innovation<\/a>, and Unite Us<\/a>, the nation’s trusted technology partner for integrating health and community-based care. The patients were served within the Unite Virginia <\/a>network.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis study is yet another data point demonstrating that proactive, non-medical service coordination reduces overall costs while also improving patient outcomes,\u201d said Halima Ahmadi-Montecalvo, vice president of research and evaluation at Unite Us. \u201cA critical factor in the success of such efforts is a true closed-loop\u2014having a way to ensure the patient receives what they need when they need it. Only then can it be effective.\u201d<\/p>\n

By facilitating the coordination and delivery of key HRSNs or non-medical needs\u2013such as benefits navigation, food assistance, or shelter\u2013Unite Us helped reduce ED visits by 21 per 1,000 patients in clients served by Ballad Health in Southwest Virginia.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis evaluation reinforces what we have long known\u2014addressing non-medical drivers of health is not just the right thing to do, it\u2019s a healthcare imperative,\u201d said Paula Masters, chief health disparities officer at Ballad Health. \u201cUnite Us\u2019 closed-loop referral technology enables us to go far beyond making referrals\u2014we can securely track whether services were delivered and measure the impact in real-time. That visibility is critical. It allows our teams to close the loop on care, target interventions more effectively, and ultimately improve outcomes while reducing unnecessary ED utilization. We\u2019re not just coordinating services\u2014we\u2019re creating accountability, efficiency, and measurable change across our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bridging Healthcare and Social Services for Whole-Person Care<\/strong>
\n<\/strong>Recognizing the need for stronger coordination between health and community care systems, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), in collaboration with VHHA, and other statewide partners launched Unite Virginia<\/a>\u2014a coordinated, technology-driven referral network improving Virginians\u2019 access to receive the right care at the right time. Since its inception in December 2020, Unite Virginia has facilitated connections for more than 66,000 individuals, with over 3,000 partner programs spanning all 133 Virginia localities.<\/p>\n

\u201cBridging the gaps between health and community care are critical to ensuring health and safety for all Virginians,\u201d said Reisa Sloce, district director for VDH\u2019s LENOWISCO and Cumberland Plateau Health Districts. \u201cThrough use of this framework, many local partners have provided essential services to Virginians in need, which is helping to reimagine how whole-person care can be delivered across the Commonwealth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Impactful Outcomes Through Strategic Collaboration<\/strong>
\nThis study analyzed data from January 2020 to September 2024, linking Ballad Health\u2019s UB-04 institutional claims form and utilization data with standardized referral data from Unite Us. Of the 1,019 unique patients identified, 873 had six months of healthcare utilization data available both before and after receiving a referral. The results were compelling:<\/p>\n