(Washington, D.C.) –Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) applauded an announcement from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that twenty-four health centers across Washington state will receive a total of $1,094,052 in Affordable Care Act funding to recognize health center quality improvement achievements and invest in ongoing quality improvement activities. The Washington health centers receiving awards are proven leaders in areas such as chronic disease management, preventive care and the use of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) to report quality data.
“Washington state’s community health centers are helping patients get care when and where they need it, and I’m so pleased they are being recognized for their work,” said Senator Murray. “This funding will help health centers get the resources they need to continue putting patients’ needs first and providing the best possible care.”
Washington Health centers receiving these funds are being recognized for high levels of quality performance in one or more of the following categories:
- Health center quality leaders received awards if they were among the top 30 percent of all health centers that achieved the best overall clinical outcomes, demonstrating their ability to focus on quality in all aspects of their clinical operations; 7 Washington health centers received funding in this category for approximately $250,290.
- National quality leaders received awards for exceeding national clinical benchmarks (Healthy People 2020 objectives and health center national averages) for chronic disease management, preventive care, and perinatal/prenatal care, demonstrating the critical role that health centers play in promoting higher quality health care nationwide; 4 Washington health centers received funding in this category for approximately $162,551.
- Clinical quality improvers received awards if they demonstrated at least a 10 percent improvement in clinical quality measures between 2012 and 2013, showing a significant improvement in the health of the patients they serve; 22 Washington health centers received funding in this category for approximately $501,208.
- Electronic Health Record reporters received funding if they used EHRs to report clinical quality measure data on all of their patients, a key transformational step in driving quality improvement for all health center patients across the nation; 12 Washington health centers received funding in this category for approximately $180,000.
In Washington, 26 HRSA-supported health centers operate more than 254 service delivery sites that provide care to nearly 836,637 patients. For a list of FY 2015 Quality Improvement Awards recipients, visit www.hrsa.gov/about/news/2014tables/qualityimprovement/.
Full breakdown of funding for Washington state: http://www.hrsa.gov/about/news/2014tables/qualityimprovement/awards.aspx?state=wa&
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