Back in the USA: The Latest on MIH-CP

Table of Contents

• Trivia!

  • Houston Community Health Paramedics Provide Holistic Care and Help Ease Strain on 911 Services

  • Mobile Integrated Healthcare: A Strategic Asset for Payers in Value-Based Care

  • Colleges Are the New Frontline for Community Health Access

New Program

Community health paramedics in Harris County (Houston area) are stepping in to deliver proactive in‑home care for people who frequently use 911—especially those dealing with chronic or mental health issues. Their approach emphasizes building trust and addressing root causes, not just transporting and treating. The Houston Fire Department’s Proactive Consumer Needs Team has already identified over 1,855 high‑frequency users and is expanding. Though impactful, the program grapples with funding and staffing constraints because visits aren’t reimbursable via Medicare or Medicaid

(Scroll down to discover how this connects to broader shifts in healthcare strategy!)

Value

Mobile Integrated Healthcare: A Strategic Asset for Payers in Value-Based Care

With healthcare increasingly shifting towards value-based care, Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) is becoming a powerful tool: it brings clinical services directly to people's homes or communities. MIH helps insurers slash ED visits, reduce readmissions, and improve chronic disease management—all while boosting patient satisfaction and lowering per‑member‑per‑month (PMPM) costs. For instance, the MedStar Mobile Healthcare program in Texas saw a 52% drop in 911 usage among enrolled patients, and other programs have cut 30‑day readmissions by 17%

(Keep scrolling—coming up next: how schools are turning into mini-clinics!)

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Mobile Clinic

Contra Costa Health has launched a new mobile clinic model aimed at embedding care directly within community colleges—turning campuses into convenient health access points. Each week, mobile units will rotate between Contra Costa College, Diablo Valley College, and Los Medanos College, offering general physicals, reproductive health services, mental health support, and confidential screenings.

The initiative is deliberately designed to remove common barriers like insurance requirements, transportation gaps, and stigma around seeking help. By targeting students—many of whom are juggling jobs, family responsibilities, and financial strain—the county is meeting people where they already gather while ensuring access for uninsured or Medi-Cal enrollees.