Grant Partners

To support technology upgrades, data integration and staff training.

Ecu-Health Care will conduct outreach in partnership with local community organizations and institutions; provide direct-to-consumer outreach via phone or mailings to Berkshire Medical Center uninsured patients as identified through an automated referral system; partner with other area health and human service organizations to establish an online referral system; review with clients the contents of a member packet including information on what changes to an account need to be reported, staying healthy with your new insurance, eligibility and benefits, how to make a payment, and advanced premium tax credits; and expand digital media, billboards, public broadcast, and radio advertising.

Clinical & Support Options, Inc. (CSO) operates an Emergency Services Program (ESP) In Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties. They provide comprehensive community-based behavioral health services for adults with a range of outpatient, day treatment, psychosocial rehabilitation and care management services. The team will focus their planning year on developing a sustainable model for expanding behavioral health urgent care access to psychopharmacology, providing community-based expedited medical clearance, and enhancing ESP/urgent care and police coordination.

Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) will provide legal expertise to coalitions and organizations that maintain and improve health care coverage for low-income Massachusetts residents. MLRI will conduct policy research and analyses to help Massachusetts-based and national partners understand how federal regulations may impact coverage. Additionally, MLRI will advocate for ways to reduce churn among MassHealth beneficiaries and will work to ensure that MassHealth members know their rights as consumers.

To hire a digital marketing consultant to enhance the organization's website and social media strategy.

To purchase a new electronic medical record system.

To hire a media consultant to develop videos educating youth on accessing health care via a health center. 

With Foundation grant funding in 2015, CHC of Cape Cod used a combination of national best practices and center-designed strategies to develop a risk stratification tool to identify high-risk patients with significant behavioral and medical health co-morbidities, uncontrolled chronic diseases, a history of frequent hospitalization, and a history of frequent ED visits in order to implement a more comprehensive and effective model of integration.  The risk stratification tool has enabled the health center to create a high-risk registry that is fully operational and key to helping the center to achieve full integration.  With this three-year grant, CHC of Cape Cod will focus on patients who have screened for one or more behavioral health conditions, with the goal of improving access to ongoing behavioral health services for at least 1,000 patients who may benefit from an integrated care approach.  The health center will expand complex care management and quality improvement staff, and increase family involvement with care.

To purchase six computers, a laptop and updated software, to enable more efficient outreach and enrollment. 

To upgrade the organization's IT infrastructure to include a remote services system that will improve the coordination of behavioral health services for clients, and ensure security of medical records.

Boston Center for Independent Living (BCIL) will represent the interests of individuals with disabilities to policymakers and health care delivery system leaders. BCIL will work to ensure the availability of funds for accessible medical equipment, the continuation of funding for One Care plans, and the stability of MassHealth’s partnership with community-based organizations. BCIL will partner with other organizations in representing the disability community to accountable care organizations. Additionally, BCIL will continue its involvement with the Disability Advocates Advancing our Healthcare Rights (DAAHR) Coalition, focusing on social determinants of health.

Massachusetts Public Health Association is implementing the campaign phase of its Alliance for Community Health Integration (ACHI), a collaboration among state and local leaders in public health and consumer advocacy focused on ensuring that the social determinants of health are intentionally identified and addressed in Massachusetts health care transformation. Priorities include: maximizing the impact of social determinants of health on new MassHealth ACO models by ensuring availability of training and technical assistance for partners, and promoting data transparency on health-related social needs, interventions, and outcomes; advocating for changes in community benefits to strengthen alignment of hospital investments with community needs and social determinants of health; and engaging hospitals, health centers, and insurers to utilize their political clout to advance legislation that addresses social determinants of health.

Disability Policy Consortium (DPC) will connect disability advocacy communities across the state and amplify the voices of these groups in conversations with state and federal policymakers. In so doing, DPC seeks to re-frame disability as a social rather than medical condition and to shift the focus within disability-related health care from payment to ethics. DPC will serve as a hub for cross-disability advocacy through community-based participatory action research, their co-leadership of DAAHR, and an expanded social media presence.

To revamp the organization’s website.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness Massachusetts (NAMI Mass) will work to improve access to mental health services and to reduce stigma regarding mental health conditions. Priorities include restoring state funding and reimbursement for behavioral health services and improving commercial coverage of emergency services. Additionally, NAMI Mass will work on creating a statewide mental health training program for law enforcement. To achieve these goals, NAMI Mass will conduct policy analyses, organize local chapters and peer support program members, and participate in coalitions and stakeholder alliances.