Medicare to test if seamless social work can improve health

Now the government is launching an experiment to see if seamless social work can improve the health of vulnerable Medicare and Medicaid recipients, and perhaps even lower costs, by heading off emergency room visits and hospitalizations. The Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday announced a five-year, $157 million grant program for as many as 44 organizations that will work to link patients with social services they may need, be that housing, transportation, Meals on Wheels, or help to deal with domestic abuse.