The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), in collaboration with the Delta Center for a Thriving Safety Net (Delta Center) has received three additional years of support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to continue an initiative that builds on efforts to boost primary care and health centers. The initiative seeks to advance payment, policy, and practice change that will ultimately improve care for underserved people. To build on this work, project has awarded six grants totaling over $1.6 million to primary care and behavioral health state associations nationwide, as part of its second cohort of the State Learning & Action Collaborative. The second cohort expands the initiative’s reach to eight additional states, increasing the Delta Center’s impact. In addition, the Delta Center also awarded eight alumni grants to states that participated in the 2018–2020 cohort.
The project brings together state primary care associations (PCAs) and behavioral health state associations (BHSAs) to foster policy, payment, and practice changes that will benefit millions, including health center patients. NACHC’s other project partners include: JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI), the National Council for Behavioral Health (National Council), MacColl Center for Health Care Innovation at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (MacColl Center), and Families USA.
Selected organizations in the new cohort are:
- Alaska Primary Care Association
- Alaska Behavioral Health Association
- Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas, Inc.
- Bi-State Primary Care Association (New Hampshire & Vermont)
- Community Care Network of Kansas
- Community Health Center Association of Mississippi
- Louisiana Public Health Institute
- Louisiana Primary Care Association
- Mississippi Association of Community Mental Health Centers
- New Hampshire Community Behavioral Health Association
- Oklahoma Primary Care Association
- Oklahoma Behavioral Health Association
- Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers
- Rehabilitation & Community Providers Association (Pennsylvania)
Several states are focusing on broadening telehealth capabilities since the pandemic brought technology to the forefront. Other states are looking at models for integrating behavioral health and primary care in alignment with Delta Center goals. Grantees are elevating consumer voice in the design and implementation of their projects.
“NACHC is excited to continue the progress we have made to advance primary and behavioral health care in partnership with the National Council for Behavioral Health. Delta Center Phase 2 grantees will be pursuing efforts that are critical to health centers, including telehealth adoption and reimbursement, integration and support for social determinants of health in primary and behavioral health, and promoting sustainable and equitable solutions to modern health care challenges,” said Jeremy Crandall, Director of State Affairs, at NACHC.
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