GREENFIELD — Just Roots, a local farming and food access nonprofit, will receive a nearly $250,000 state grant over the course of two years to expand and enhance its operations and technology.

The farm will use the money to work with MassHealth accountable care organizations (ACOs) — groups of doctors, hospitals and other health care providers that coordinate care for MassHealth members — to render health-related social needs services.

“It’s a testament to the vital work that Just Roots is doing,” said Co-Executive Director Joshua Faller. “We’re really grateful. We’ve got really spectacular partners that are going to help us cast a net across Massachusetts.”

He said Just Roots will focus on ensuring its tech infrastructure is adequate and that staff are trained to use it. The money will also be used for professional development for staff, software licensing and employing a bilingual case worker specializing in English and Spanish.

“It marks … a critical moment for Just Roots,” Faller said.

The money is part of $10 million the Healey-Driscoll administration has announced is going to 37 community-based organizations that provide housing and nutrition support services across the state. In its announcement, the state cited research that indicates health-related social needs services and other factors outside of a doctor’s office determine up to 80% of a person’s health outcomes.

“This funding will help ensure a smooth transition as MassHealth integrates coverage of health-related social needs, like food and housing, into managed care,” Healey said in a statement. “Without a safe place to sleep or healthy food to eat, it is nearly impossible to stay healthy or manage health conditions. This important transition furthers MassHealth’s commitment to ensuring members’ basic needs are met, so that they can care for their physical and mental health.”

The funding comes as MassHealth makes a shift in its approach to offering health-related social needs (HRSN) services for eligible members. As of Jan. 1, MassHealth transitioned from a grant-based pilot HRSN program where ACOs chose which members receive services to an approach where any eligible member must be offered the services their ACOs provide. MassHealth ACOs are required to offer at least one housing service and one nutrition service for eligible members, and have contracted with housing and nutrition organizations as HRSN providers to deliver these new services.

“We know that the conditions in which people are born and live have a huge impact on people’s health and contribute to health inequities,” Dr. Kiame Mahaniah, the state’s undersecretary for health, said in a statement. “That’s why I am so encouraged to see MassHealth tackle the issue head-on with a strategy for covering these services for members who need them.”

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or
413-930-4120.