Northeast Delta HSA selected as Council of State Governments’ 2023 STAR Award finalist
“Being selected as a finalist for such a prestigious award is a testament to our staff and Board’s commitment to our agency’s regional vision and mission.” – Dr. Monteic A. Sizer
MONROE, La. (PRWEB)
July 12, 2023
Northeast Delta Human Services Authority (NEDHSA) was selected as the Council of State Governments, Southern Office (CSG South), 2023 State Transformation in Action (STAR) Award finalist for its Monetary Incentive Program that helped improve patient no-show rates. The prestigious STAR Award recognizes impactful, creative, effective, and transferable state government solutions each year during its Southern Legislative Conference. Very competitive program submissions were accepted from a wide array of state departments operating within the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.
With regionally-based leadership and perspective, and national-level resources, CSG South provides southern legislators and government staff with a wide variety of programs and services that facilitate regional cooperation and encourage the exchange of information. Acting as an extension of its members’ offices, CSG South provides policy research and analysis, leadership development, and government staff training. CSG South serves the southern legislatures of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
NEDHSA Executive Director Dr. Monteic A. Sizer and Director of Behavioral and Primary Health Analytics Dr. Dependra Bhatta represented the state of Louisiana and shared groundbreaking data at CSG South’s Southern Legislative Conference in Charleston, South Carolina.
“We want to thank CSG South for recognizing our commitment to innovation and programmatic solutions designed to address complex problems associated with vulnerable populations in Louisiana,” Dr. Sizer said. “Being selected as a finalist for such a prestigious award is a testament to our staff and Board’s commitment to our agency’s regional vision and mission.”
NEDHSA discovered that mental health outpatient clinics often face challenges with high no-shows and appointment cancellations, with literature showing that the no-show rate in behavioral health outpatient clinics can be up to 30 percent. These high no-show rates can result in wasted resources, disrupted treatment plans, delayed access to care for other patients, and the increased use of high cost emergency room and jail utilization. NEDHSA’s monetary incentive program rewarded patients who attend their scheduled appointments, reducing no-show rates and increasing overall patient well-being.
Dr. Bhatta said, “I believe this recognition is a testament to our team’s dedication and innovative efforts in addressing behavioral health challenges and improving patient outcomes.”
NEDHSA’s commitment to ensuring vulnerable populations obtain critical behavioral and primary health care was also recognized by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL). NEDHSA was awarded the National Healthcare Innovations Award for its behavioral and primary healthcare integration strategies, along with its work to reduce negative social determinants of health.
Dr. Sizer added, “For ten years, I have led NEDHSA with innovation and transformative systems thinking to help ensure we are meeting marginalized people where they are and being a catalyst to help improve overall population health outcomes regionally. Being recognized by CSG South for using monetary incentives to decrease no-show rates, lower patient anxiety and depression levels, stabilize triglyceride levels, and increase patient perceived overall well-being is humbling.”
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