After Successful First Year, CVS Health and Unite Us Expand Partnership Across Kentucky

With this agreement, Aetna Better Health of Kentucky members throughout the Commonwealth will benefit from this coordinated care network of health and social care providers, improving access to services for people where they are, when they need it most.

New York, NY, January 19, 2021: Unite Us today announced that they’ve partnered with CVS Health to build upon a foundation established over the past year in Kentucky, and offer Kentuckians across the entire state the opportunity to build healthier communities by breaking down barriers between health and social service providers.

This news couldn’t have come at a better time, as COVID-19 continues to significantly impact the Commonwealth, affecting people’s medical and social well-being in profound ways. Now Aetna Better Health of Kentucky (ABH-KY), a Medicaid managed care plan that serves more than 240,000 members across Kentucky, will expand the services community health workers, case managers and member services representatives have been offering. ABH-KY will use the Unite Us Platform to better support people across the Commonwealth who are in need of critical social services such as food, housing, employment and mental health care. In addition, ABH-KY is committed to identifying additional entry points of care and social needs screening opportunities to reach as many members as possible and inform them of how they can get help, in what’s commonly known as a no-wrong-door approach.

Known to Aetna members as the LocalWorks program, the network is powered by the Unite Us Platform and supported by a local community engagement team that works hand in hand with longstanding community-based partners and providers. Established in 2019, United Community was originally created in partnership with Metro United Way of Louisville, Kentucky. Focused initially on the Jefferson County region, Metro United Way will continue to lead this work in their seven-county footprint in Kentucky and Indiana. Over the past year, more than 70 percent of service requests in Jefferson County alone have been resolved.

Now with this expansion agreement, Aetna Better Health members across Kentucky will have access to the same accountable, secure and outcomes-focused network that ensures people are not only referred to much-needed social services, but in fact receive those services.

By the end of 2021, anyone in Kentucky will be able to access services via the network – which will be available in every county to everyone in need of support. This means simple, convenient and local access to comprehensive care. Community members can request help from their pharmacist, primary care provider or community partner, and in minutes be connected to a robust network of social service providers who can refer to each other and be certain that services are delivered. This network is free for the community-based organizations providing care, as well as the people requesting services.

“Over the past year, our collaboration with Unite Us has resulted in over 250% growth in the number of local organizations who utilize this important tool to work together and coordinate the services they provide to our members and the community,” said Jonathan Copley, CEO, Aetna Better Health of Kentucky. “These seamless connections to community resources and services help improve health outcomes, and we look forward to continuing to build upon that success as we expand the network statewide and make sure our members are getting the resources they need.”

“We are thrilled to continue this work with CVS Health and grow our partnership with Aetna Better Health to commit even more resources to Kentucky,” says Taylor Justice, President of Unite Us. “The rising number of COVID-19 cases and the increasing demand for unemployment and nutritional services are indicators of the second wave of social needs caused by the pandemic,” he adds. “Now we can work quickly to help as many people as possible have their critical needs met.”