Intelligent Search & VAB Delivery | HIStalk
- Medicaid managed care plans offer value-added benefits (VABs) in at least 48 states.
- VABs, typically non-medical, address member wellbeing and health-related social needs.
- In Ohio, Medicaid plans provide VABs for dental, vision, transportation, and wellness programs, including housing support and medical meals.
Unlock the potential of Medicaid value-Added Benefits (VABs) with clever search. Underutilized VABs, designed to enhance member wellbeing, are the focus. we explore how advanced search capabilities can streamline access to services like dental, vision, and transportation, improving health outcomes. Ohio’s Medicaid plans offer robust VAB programs, but accessing them efficiently poses a challenge. Discover how integrating intelligent search into care platforms can connect members with critical resources, validating coverage and providing tailored recommendations. Learn how platforms can provide streamlined access to food, transportation, and much more. Learn about the role interoperable social care platforms play. News Directory 3 highlights how the right technology addresses the unmet need.Discover what’s next in Medicaid innovation.
Intelligent Search Enhances Medicaid Value-Added Benefits
Updated June 16, 2025
Medicaid managed care plans offer value-added benefits (VABs) in at least 48 states. These services, exceeding standard Medicaid offerings, frequently enough go underutilized. Andi Gillentine, vice president at Findhelp, suggests that maximizing intelligent search through closed-loop referral systems can improve access to these programs.
VABs, typically non-medical, address member wellbeing and health-related social needs. Examples include car seats, extended dental and vision services, and over-the-counter medication funding.
In Ohio, Medicaid plans provide VABs for dental, vision, transportation, and wellness programs, including housing support and medical meals. Incentives for preventative care,prenatal and postpartum support,application services,telehealth,and 24-hour medical advice lines are also available. Each of ohio’s seven Medicaid plans offers at least 30 VABs; one offers nearly 50.
however, accessing these benefits can be challenging. Members often spend hours researching health plan websites or contacting customer service.This administrative burden results in high costs for health plans,and members may miss preventive care or resort to emergency rooms for non-emergent needs.
Gillentine proposes an ideal scenario: a single platform where Medicaid members can validate coverage, search for services, and receive tailored recommendations, including community, county, state, and health plan resources. This intelligent search would streamline access to food, transportation, and other essential support.
According to Gillentine, the technology exists to integrate these workflows using interoperable social care platforms. Tailored recommendations, including VABs, can be presented to care teams in safety net hospitals. Health plan care managers can also assess eligibility and directly refer members to services with their consent.
What’s next
The integration of intelligent search into social care platforms promises to improve access to value-added benefits, ultimately enhancing health outcomes and quality of care for Medicaid members.