About Virginia Community Healthcare Association
Nearly two-thirds of Virginia’s counties are designated as full or partially medically under served areas. Additionally, nearly one million Virginians have no health insurance. Since 1980, community health centers serving these areas have been the focus of the Virginia Community Healthcare Association’s efforts.
Our Mission:
Assuring Access to Primary Care for All Virginians. We believe that regardless of geographic location or income, all Virginians should have convenient, appropriate, and affordable primary care.
We are an integral part of Virginia’s Health Safety Net which includes Virginia’s Community Health Centers (CHCs), nonprofit rural health clinics, community-based providers of primary care, and health departments providing primary care services, and other similar organizations.
Over the years, The Association has been a driving force in establishing and maintaining both local and statewide efforts to improve primary care. Among our efforts we have been a founder or original sponsor of Virginia’s Five Point Plan to Strengthen the Primary Care System; Area Health Education Centers (AHEC); Virginia Center for the Advancement of Generalist Medicine; and the Practice Sights Initiative.
Who We Serve:
The Virginia Community Healthcare Association is the Primary Care Association (PCA) for the Commonwealth of Virginia. All states have one designated PCA to advance the expansion of Virginia’s Health Centers commonly known as Community Health Centers (CHCs), and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). We advocate for the health care interests of the medically underserved and uninsured by helping secure access to care in areas where access is scarce. In other words, our Association serves the people of Virginia by serving our Health Centers.
The Association has many programs to assist Community Health Centers and the Virginian’s they serve. These programs vary from Training, Technical Assistance, Provider Recruitment and Locum Tenens, Cooperative Purchasing, Advocacy and Policy, and Peer Networking Committees for the sharing of Best Practices. We are an integral part of the Virginia Health Safety Net.
What We Do:
Our principal responsibility to Virginia’s Health Centers is to offer training and technical assistance to support their commitment to provide high-quality, comprehensive, convenient primary care services. Primary care services include medical, dental, behavioral health and pharmacy assistance. Throughout the year, we offer webinars, in-person trainings and individual assistance to health center leadership and staff. We also work with regional and national partners to provide timely and high quality trainings as well as guidance on any new or ongoing federal and state initiatives.
Our Services:
Training
The Association provides training on topics important to members, such as continuing education for health professionals, Board of Directors responsibilities and revenue maximization.
Technical Assistance and Consulting
The Association provides ongoing technical assistance and consultation for established centers, and organizing communities, on topics ranging from practice development to marketing to managed care.
Provider Recruitment & Locum Tenens
The Association employs a provider recruitment specialist to assist members in securing and keeping health care providers. The Association also facilitates locum tenens (temporary physician) coverage for member centers.
Cost Savings Through Cooperative Purchasing
One of the original purposes of The Association was to save its members money. That role is still active with the Association offering several cooperative buying programs including: liability insurance coverage, medical and office supplies, reference laboratory services, long distance phone services, patient billing statement preparation, and more.
Advocacy and Information
The Association provides information, updates and news of vital importance to members. Topics range from federal and state legislation to emerging health care trends.
Policy
The Association is a well known key player in primary health care policy development for the improvement of access to primary care and prevention services.