Health Center Library

What does this study add? HRSA-funded researchers analyzed associations between health center characteristics and receipt of Quality Improvement Awards (QIA) from 2014-2018. Researchers found that almost all participating health centers (99.7%) received at least one QIA during the study period, and health centers with Electronic Health Record (EHR) reporting and Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) recognition earned higher award funding even after excluding bonus payments for these two capacities.

What are the implications for the Health Center Program? Although the QIA program has since evolved into other value-based funding mechanisms, the findings suggest that investments in EHR and PCMH accreditation may have supported broader clinical quality improvement and that health centers are able to implement value-based payment initiatives to improve patient experiences and health outcomes. The findings also suggest that HRSA award programs should set clinical quality benchmarks ahead of time.

What does this study add? Health centers play an integral role in addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) among medically underserved populations, yet information on how health centers utilize SDOH data to inform care is limited. HRSA-funded researchers conducted a systematic review to understand how health centers integrate SDOH into primary care practices. Researchers found that many health centers are making progress on collecting SDOH data using standardized reporting tools and other initiatives, but they may require more support to use the data in primary care practices and program evaluation efforts.

What are the implications for the Health Center Program? Health care delivery models that emphasize accountability for patient outcomes should support initiatives for primary care providers to integrate SDOH data in efforts to improve care quality and outcomes.