Medicaid will now reimburse Street Medicine efforts in Pa. bringing health care to unhoused people

On today’s episode of The Confluence:

Lawmakers have made multiple efforts to update the state’s probation laws over the last five years, and this year, another bill has been passed by the Senate. Danielle Ohl, investigative reporter with Spotlight PA, reports the effort attempts to stem the cycle of monitoring and incarceration, but some of its provisions have led civil rights organizations to oppose the bill. (0:00 - 7:01)

For those experiencing housing insecurity, accessing healthcare can be impossible, even though these people might be the ones in need of medical care the most. That’s where street medicine comes in. Medicaid will reimburse Pennsylvania providers who offer these services. One such program is Pittsburgh Mercy’s Operation Safety Net.

Dr. Jim Withers, founder and medical director of Pittsburgh Mercy’s Operation Safety Net and founder of the Street Medicine Institute, says a big part of the job is not just treating people’s health, but building trust. Tony Beltran, president and CEO of Pittsburgh Mercy, says the reimbursement is the first step to helping chip away at the cost of offering Street Medicine, which is a way of helping some unhoused people seek more regular care. (7:05 - 17:15)

And as part of our Good Question series, 90.5 WESA’s Jillian Forstadt looks into what defines the Mon Valley and thus who should be concerned about local air quality alerts there. (17:20 - 22:30)