Asthma remains a serious health risk in the United States, particularly among children from low-income families. This article presents an overview of the Asthma Network of West Michigan, the local asthma coalition serving West Michigan, and its intensive home-based case management model for individuals with uncontrolled asthma. The Asthma Network is believed to be the first grassroots asthma coalition in the nation to contract with health plans and obtain reimbursement for these services. The Asthma Network's program has had a positive impact on health care use as well as cost savings, and its model has been replicated in other communities.
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