Idaho Primary Care Association Receives Cambia Health Foundation grant for "Idaho Patient-Centered Medical Home" development in Idaho Community Health Centers

BOISE, Idaho, April 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Idaho Primary Care Association (IPCA) has been awarded a three-year grant in the amount of  $300,000 from the Cambia Health Foundation to work with 20 Idaho community health center (CHC) clinics to facilitate their transformation into Patient-Centered Medical Homes.

About the grant

The grant made to The Idaho Primary Care Association represents the largest grant the Cambia Health Foundation has made in Idaho and aligns with the Foundation's objectives to explore innovative models of care delivery that promote patient activation and a focus on outcomes, while improving quality and lowering the cost of care.

This three-year project builds on the work of the Governor's Select Committee on Health Care and the work conducted in the Safety-Net Medical Home Initiative (funded by the Commonwealth fund May 2009 – April 2013) and will include work with 20 CHC clinics to help them reach high benchmark levels of quality, efficiency, and patient experience.

"Whenever we can build partnerships between the public and private sectors to improve health care in Idaho, that's a good thing," said Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter. "Medical home initiatives, including this one with the Idaho Primary Care Association and Cambia Health Foundation, can help improve the quality of care for patients across Idaho and lower health care costs."

Patient-centered medical homes in Idaho

On a parallel track, the Idaho Medical Home Collaborative representing the Governor's Office, Idaho legislators, payers, and health policy leaders will continue their work of the past two years to work to transform reimbursement policy for medical home services. The Idaho Medical Home Collaborative has also received funding from the Cambia Health Foundation.

The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is a model of primary care in which patients receive well-coordinated services and enhanced access to a clinical team, and clinicians use decision support tools, measure their performance, and conduct quality improvement activities to meet patients' needs. The model holds promise not only for improving clinical quality and patients' experiences, but also for reducing health system costs.

Serving the underserved

"For Many in Idaho's medically underserved communities, the care they receive is fragmented, infrequent and uncoordinated," said Scott Kreiling, Cambia Health Foundation board member. "Through this grant and our partnership with the Idaho Primary Care Association, our goal is to help shift Idaho's health care system to a patient-centered medical home model and improve health outcomes by ensuring patients have access to the high quality, coordinated care they need."

The parent organizations of the 20 partner clinics include Adams County Health Center in Council; Upper Valley Community Health Services in St. Anthony; Glenns Ferry Health Center in Glenns Ferry; Benewah Medical Center in Plummer; Community Family Clinic in Idaho Falls; Community Health Association of Spokane (Lewiston, ID clinic); Dirne Community Health Center in Coeur d' Alene; Family Health Services in Twin Falls, Kaniksu Health Services in Bonner's Ferry; Terry Reilly Health Services in Nampa; and Valley Family Health Care in Payette.

Idaho Primary Care Association staff will provide support the clinics to improve quality of care.

"We are very excited about this opportunity to continue assisting our community health centers transform their practices to patient-centered medical homes. We truly appreciate the support that Cambia Health Foundation is providing to continue this important work," said Tom Fronk, executive director, Idaho Primary Care Association.

About Cambia Health Foundation

Cambia Health Foundation is the corporate foundation of Cambia Health Solutions, a total health solutions company dedicated to transforming the way people experience the health care system. A 501(c)3 grant making organization, the foundation partners with organizations to create a more person-focused and economically sustainable health care system. Through its Sojourns program, the foundation also works to enhance quality, improve access, advance innovation and facilitate conversations about palliative care and end-of-life issues. For more information, visit http://cambiahealthfoundation.org or www.twitter.com/cambiahealthfdn.

SOURCE Cambia Health Foundation