The Massachusetts Medicaid Policy Institute (MMPI), a program of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, released a new report that presents the results of a study analyzing the impact of the Community Support Program for People Experiencing Chronic Homelessness (CSPECH) on the utilization and cost of health care services. CSPECH is an innovative program through which MassHealth reimburses community-based support services provided to chronically homeless individuals residing in permanent supportive housing. The researchers analyzed MassHealth data for a group of 1,300 individuals enrolled in CSPECH from fiscal years 2007 to 2013, finding a “return” of between $1.61 and $2.43 for every dollar invested in the program.
While housing costs are not reimbursable by Medicaid, CSPECH serves as a vital bridge to housing stability for a uniquely hard-to-reach population whose physical and behavioral health needs are often addressed by more expensive forms of acute care like hospital emergency departments.