HHS www.hhs.gov just awarded $36 million to 50 Health Center Controlled Networks (HCCN) www.hrsa.gov/healthit/networkguide in 41 states and Puerto Rico that will impact over 1,020 participating health center organizations. Health centers http://bphc.hrsa.gov provide high quality preventive and primary health care even if the patient does not have insurance.
Nearly 1,400 health centers operate about 9,800 service delivery sites in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Pacific Basin. These health centers employ more than 170,000 staff who provide care for nearly 23 million patients.
The networks help health centers adopt and implement certified EHR technology, improve integrated data collection, analysis, and reporting, and help the health centers meet the requirements of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs.
The networks also improve clinical and operational quality, reduce health disparities, and improve population health through HIT. HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell said, “By improving these networks, individual health centers will be able to work together to share resources, leverage buying power, and improve access to health IT.”
HCCNs improve access to care, enhance quality of care and achieve cost efficiency through the redesign of practices to integrate services, optimize patient outcomes, and negotiate managed care contracts on behalf of participating health centers.
The networks also promote information sharing and help health centers meet the requirements of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, improve strategies, and help the centers engage in health information exchange.
bphc.hrsa.gov/programopportunities/fundingopportunities/hccn/2016hccnawards/index.html has more information and a list of award recipients.