From Ripples into Waves: Link Health the Charge on Innovative A.I. Strategies to Increase Public Benefits Enrollment
by Austin Tsai
Imagine yourself at a grocery store, shopping for produce. By the time you get home, you notice an ad that a different grocery store, on the other side of town, had a greater selection and better prices. It wasn’t on you for not knowing, nor was it the fault of advertisements for not telling you sooner. It was simply unnoticed, and you fell through the cracks.
This analogy illustrates a predicament faced by millions of Americans: the existence of state and federal benefits programs that remain unknown or inaccessible to those who need them the most. The problem is not just the lack of awareness, but also the daunting process of enrollment, which leaves many eligible individuals falling through the cracks. Fortunately, organizations like Link Health are bridging this gap, ensuring that more people can access the support they deserve.
Link Health, a nonprofit organization, is simplifying and streamlining the enrollment process for essential public benefits. Working closely with the City of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Link Health partners with several healthcare centers to directly enroll patients into various federal benefits programs. These programs provide crucial support that can significantly improve quality of life.
Among the programs Link Health facilitates are Lifeline, which offers free or discounted phone and internet services; Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC), which provides financial and employment support to families in need; and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is essential for ensuring food security for low-income individuals and families. These programs are not just beneficial; they are vital, often making the difference between stability and crisis for many households.
The impact of Link Health’s work is not merely theoretical. In just two years, the organization has helped upwards of 1900 individuals, injecting over $1.7M in funding back into households. This is not just a matter of numbers; it is a testament to the tangible difference that well-executed enrollment aid can make. For every household that receives support, there is a ripple effect that extends into the wider community, improving health, reducing stress, and fostering economic stability.
How was Link Health able to accomplish this work? The answer lies in embracing new technology in the form of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The first step begins with a screening tool ambassadors for Link Health use with patients for eligibility screening. Afterwards, through the help of the AI for Impact Co-op Program at Northeastern University’s Burnes Center for Social Change, a specific generative AI was provided to Link Health for seamless data entry by simply scanning an eligible patient’s ID. The Optical Character Recognition technology provided by the AI inputs patient information into a database which helps with populating specific information into the enrollment applications for different programs. Furthermore, input into this database allows for better security of patient information, as opposed to other methods. Overall, the usage of AI in this fashion allows anyone in the organization to help patients in need as efficiently as possible, resulting in the observed impact Link Health has had on patients’ lives.
Although Link Health has done substantial work in this field, it is not alone in this mission. Across the country, similar organizations are working to ensure that federal and state benefits reach those who need them. Auxa Health provides comprehensive benefit screening, educating individuals on the programs they may qualify for and assisting them in the enrollment process. This proactive approach ensures that more people are aware of the support available to them and can navigate the often-complicated enrollment procedures.
Similarly, Cinnamon Health, acts as a digital network, directly engaging with patients to streamline government benefits enrollment. By leveraging technology, Cinnamon Health makes the process more accessible, particularly for those who may not have the time or ability to navigate complex systems on their own. Additionally, they offer support to other stakeholders, such as patient advocates and social workers, ensuring that the benefits enrollment process is as smooth and efficient as possible for aiding their clients.
Uno Health, meanwhile, focuses on Medicare Advantage. For patients already covered by Medicare, Uno Health assists in enrolling eligible plan members into both state and federal income-based benefits programs through personalized savings plans. This targeted approach ensures that even those who are already receiving some benefits can maximize their access to the full range of support available to them.
Each of these organizations, much like Link Health, plays a crucial role in assisting patients with enrolling in state and federal benefit programs, whether in-person or digitally. However, organizations do not operate forever. For instance, the Benefits Data Trust, which has spent 20 years providing access to benefits for people nationwide, has recently shut its doors. This development underscores the importance of sustaining and expanding these efforts.
The idea of enrollment aid is not novel, but the proliferation of organizations dedicated to this cause lends credence to its importance. The ripple effect of their work has the potential to grow into a wave, transforming the lives of thousands of individuals for the better. But for this wave to reach its full potential, more organizations, state governments, and communities must recognize the value of these efforts and support them accordingly. In a country where the social safety net is often strained, the work of organizations like Link Health and its counterparts is indispensable. They are not just helping individuals; they are helping to build stronger, more resilient communities. The challenge is great, but the rewards—for individuals, families, and society as a whole—are far greater.