EP. 47 Health Beyond Healthcare: The Power of Community Partnerships

In this episode of Thinking CAAP, Beck Moore welcomes Dr. Craig Butler, Chief Medical Officer for PA Health and Wellness, for a conversation about long-term services and supports, health-related social needs, and the role community partnerships can play in helping people access the care and resources they need. PA Health and Wellness supports individuals who qualify for long-term services and supports, including many people who need help maintaining independence in their homes and communities. Dr. Butler explains services such as personal assistance, non-medical transportation, home-delivered meals, employment assistance, personal emergency response systems, and other supports that help people stay safe, healthy, and connected outside of a traditional medical setting. Beck and Dr. Butler also discuss the larger connection between healthcare, social drivers of health, and Community Action. From housing instability and transportation barriers to food access and care coordination, they unpack why a person’s overall health is often shaped by factors far beyond medical care alone. The episode also highlights the growing partnership opportunity between PA Health and Wellness and Community Action Agencies across Pennsylvania. Dr. Butler emphasizes the value of hyperlocal knowledge, trusted community relationships, and local outreach, while Beck reflects on how Community Action’s Community Needs Assessments, compliance structure, and deep community expertise make the network a strong partner for health plans seeking to better serve people across the Commonwealth. Together, the conversation points toward a shared opportunity: aligning healthcare resources with trusted community-based organizations so that people can better understand, access, and use the benefits available to them. For more from PA Health and Wellness: Email: phwcommunityoutreach@pahealthwellness.com Discover more about the Thinking CAAP podcast: https://www.thecaap.org/the-thinkingc... Send us questions at info@thecaap.org