The Clinic Workforce We Already Have, Hiding in Plain Sight
By Dr. Alister Martin – Link Health and Workforce Development Link Health is a simple idea that solves two problems at once. We meet patients where they already are, in clinics and health centers, and help them enroll in the federal and state benefits they qualify for while they wait. That includes SNAP, WIC, Medicaid […]
How Patient Navigators Are Transforming Access to Healthcare and Financial Assistance
By Shelby-Ann Neal – For many patients, the hardest part of getting care isn’t seeing a provider, it’s everything that happens before and after. It’s the stacks of confusing forms, the times on hold, the verification letters that never seem to end. Beyond the doctors office, similar barriers play out in programs meant to keep […]
A New Chapter for Link Health: Welcoming Ar’Sheill Monsanto as Executive Director
In every emergency room I’ve ever worked in, the same unspoken truth reveals itself again and again: a patient’s zip code can matter more than their genetic code. It’s in the stories of mothers choosing between insulin and rent, of families who qualify for life-changing public benefits but never access them because the system is […]
3 Myths About Public Benefits and How Link Health Can Help
By Tulip Jettakun – Millions of Americans qualify for programs like SNAP and WIC but never apply — often because of myths, confusion, or stigma surrounding public benefits. These misconceptions prevent families from accessing life-changing support. At Link Health, we’re working to change that. Myth #1: “Receiving benefits means I’m dependent or not working hard […]
Why Programs Like Childcare Financial Assistance Are Game-Changers for Single Mothers
By Tulip Jettakun – For many single mothers, every day feels like a balancing act, racing from work to daycare, juggling bills, worrying about whether next month’s rent will get paid. According to the Center for American Progress, single mothers face far greater economic insecurity than single fathers and married parents. Even though single mothers […]
From Boarding to Breakthrough: Tailored Interventions for Vulnerable Patients
Read the article Click here Emergency Department (ED) boarding–prolonged stays in the ED while awaiting inpatient placement–is a crisis exacerbating crowding, increasing costs, and negatively impacting health outcomes. Vulnerable populations, including individuals with low socioeconomic status (SES), medically-complex older adults, and psychiatric patients are disproportionately affected. Yet, solutions tailored to their needs remain underexplored. This […]
Money as Medicine: Beyond the Monetary Value of Cash Assistance Programs
Read the article Click here Social determinants of health (SDOH)—the root causes of health disparities—often fall outside the scope of traditional clinical care. In this discussion, we argue that financial interventions, particularly cash assistance programs, can play a role in improving health outcomes by addressing SDOH. Drawing on lessons from established public health approaches, we […]
Leveraging Text-Based Outreach to Improve Enrollment in Federal Benefit Programs and Address Broadband Internet Access
Read the article Click here The intersection of healthcare access and social services utilization is a critical frontier for combating health disparities within the United States healthcare system. Federal benefit programs, including the Lifeline program, aimed at addressing broadband phone and internet access, constitute fundamental components of the social safety-net, collectively serving millions of Americans. […]
2025 Prime Health Innovation Challenge Semifinalists Announced
Read the article Click here Eleven entrepreneurs advance to the semifinal round of the annual event to award the most innovative solutions with a safety net healthcare organization to pilot solutions that improve the health of Colorado’s communities.
5 AI Tools Revolutionizing How I Work as a Physician and Nonprofit Exec
Read the article Click here Dr. Martin is an emergency physician, an assistant professor, and the founder of several national initiatives that bridge healthcare, civic engagement, and social determinants of health. As an emergency physician and a senior fellow at the Burnes Center for Social Change where I lead a collaborative effort opens in a […]