Health Resources and Services Administration
The nation’s health centers provide access to primary care services and a primary care medical home to more than 28 million patients. NCQA supports health centers that want to become Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMH).
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Up-to-date information on the status of the virus pandemic is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
HRSA PCMH Support
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) continues to invest in health centers to ensure that patients in limited resourced communities receive quality, patient-centered, affordable health care. In doing so, HRSA provides standards and guidelines for not only the development of health centers, but also for their oversight.
In seeking the highest-quality health care for limited resourced communities, HRSA also supports centers that attain and maintain National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) PCMH Recognition by providing quality improvement awards and technical assistance. HRSA’s support demonstrates its commitment to health care access; team-based, coordinated care; and quality improvement. Earning PCMH Recognition will help health centers develop these aspects of care while increasing patient and staff satisfaction and reducing costs.
PCMH: A Health Center Perspective
This HRSA-commissioned video demonstrates Piedmont Health’s success with the PCMH concept of care and details where the model can make a difference—for patients and staff, and even on the bottom line.
Overview
WHY PCMH FOR HEALTH CENTERS?
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Benefits for Health Centers
The PCMH model of care can help build better relationships between patients and their clinical care teams.
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Alignment to Social Determinants of Health
Health centers care for patient populations with unique characteristics and SDOH that create significant health disparities. The Health Center Program Compliance Manual requires centers to assess their patient populations and identify SDOH and health disparities.
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Alignment to HRSA Requirements
HRSA uses the Uniform Data Systems (UDS) Resources to assess the operational, financial and clinical quality performance of health centers and uses the Health Center Program Compliance Manual to assess compliance with required tasks.
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Alignment to Medicaid Requirements
Medicaid requirements are designed to monitor and improve aspects of care and services that are also found in key NCQA PCMH concept areas such as access, health care costs and clinical quality outcomes.
HOW TO APPLY FOR HRSA’S PCMH PROGRAM
First, health centers must notify HRSA of their intent to participate in NCQA PCMH Recognition by submitting an NOI in the HRSA Electronic Handbook (EHB) System. Follow these steps:
- In the EHB, go to the Grant Folder and click the HRSA Accreditation/PCMH Initiative link.
- Select NCQA in the Recognition organization list when completing the NOI.
- Provide information on the total number of sites requesting Recognition.
- Submit the completed NOI. Allow 2–4 weeks for HRSA to complete the review. Once the NOI is approved, HRSA will forward the notice to NCQA for processing.
For specific instructions, visit the HRSA website.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
NCQA’s State and Federal Contract team provides training and technical assistance for health centers that want to become an NCQA-Recognized PCMH and centers that are maintaining Recognition. View the HRSA training calendar and past presentations.
NCQA offers a variety of in-person seminars, on-demand training and live webinars. View all PCMH training opportunities.