Inside Health Care #107: Dr. Ava Jones and the Pursuit of Health Equity for the Homeless

Quality Matters: A Podcast by NCQA

On this episode of Inside Health Care, we feature two interviews celebrating winners of two different NCQA awards: a NCQA 2022 Health Innovation Award and a 2022-2023 PCMH CCE Quality Award Winner. Later in the show in our Fast Facts segment, we discuss gender equity-related health care terminology.

In our first interview, we talk with Dr. Ava Jones, PhD and RN, the Director for Health Equity and Accreditation at United Health Care Community and State’s Florida Plan. Dr. Jones' workplace won an NCQA 2022 Health Innovation Award for the “UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Florida Housing Navigation Program.” A healthcare navigator assists plan members with advice or suggestions on how to pursue a medical issue affecting them or their family. Dr. Jones explains the nature and importance of a housing navigator.

NCQA PCMH Recognition is like a seal of approval for quality assurance. A health care practice that earns that seal can be trusted for their dedication to delivering quality care—which means they’re dedicated to their patients. And having a Certified Content Expert, or CCE, almost guarantees a practice will continue its dedication to excellence for years to come.

NCQA’s 2022–2023 PCMH Certified Content Expert Quality Award Winner Deneane Anderson works for the Capital Area Health Network, also known as CAHN, in Richmond, VA. She’s been in the medical field for the past 15 years and has been a patient advocate for the past 14 years at CAHN and operates as the Transformation Manager of the PCMH Team at CAHN. Click the link for more information about becoming a PCMH CCE.

Our Fast Facts segment in this episode celebrates Pride month with background on federal protections for those people identifying as LGBTQ+, info on gender-affirming care and gaining health insurance. We then focus on NCQA’s efforts to update HEDIS measures to include language for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.