Washington State awards mini-grants to 10 rural hospitals
Funds will support the shift to integrated care
Last month, the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA), in partnership with the Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA), awarded $10,000 mini-grants each to 10 rural hospitals. This includes:
- Ferry County Public Hospital District (Republic)
- Island Hospital (Anacortes)
- Jefferson Healthcare (Port Townsend)
- Kittitas Valley Healthcare (Ellensburg)
- Klickitat Valley Health (Goldendale)
- Lake Chelan Community Hospital and Clinics (Chelan)
- Newport Hospital and Health Services (Newport)
- Ocean Beach Hospital and Health Services (Ocean Beach)
- Skyline Hospital (White Salmon)
- Summit Pacific Medical Center (Elma)
The grants will support the hospitals as they move their health and wellness systems to integrated care. Within integrated care, people receive whole-person care that addresses both physical and behavioral health needs.
The mini-grant funding is part of a collaboration between HCA and WSHA to assist rural hospitals in building capacity for transformation. It comes as Washington’s State Innovation Models (SIM) grant ends and Healthier Washington’s work continues. Under the banner of Healthier Washington, HCA will continue to support rural communities as part of Medicaid Transformation.
Each awardee is designated as a Critical Access Hospital, located in a Public Hospital District. These hospitals provide primary care, inpatient, outpatient, and emergency services — and for some — skilled nursing and long-term care services. Hospitals will use their mini-grants to:
- Support Accountable Communities of Health (ACHs) and other partners to identify community needs, conduct community-based planning, and develop programs.
- Develop plans to support care coordination and care management that address community priorities and targeted populations.
- Support primary care and behavioral health integration.
- Develop reporting and data analytics planning and strategy development for value-based purchasing (VBP) and data integration readiness.
- Develop or enhance programs that support providers and others in preparation for VBP.
HCA looks forward to continued collaboration with rural hospitals, WSHA, and others to support community-based delivery system transformation. We are eager to see how these hospitals integrate their health and wellness systems so rural communities can live healthier lives.
Learn more about Healthier Washington.
