Message from the CEO
As I write this message to all of you, I am reflecting not only on the updates included within this newsletter, but also on all that has been accomplished in my first year as CEO of this amazing organization. I am filled with a deep sense of pride and gratitude for what we all have accomplished together.
Despite the daunting obstacles posed by public health emergencies and natural disasters, California’s community health centers (CHCs) stood together and worked tirelessly to provide care for our patients and communities. We embarked on a journey of modernization and strategic engagement, restructuring our association to better serve our members and position ourselves as a leading voice in health care policy.
A few months ago, we hosted the first in-person Quality and Technology Conference in two years. It was so exciting to see so many of you all in person and discuss the issues impacting you and your communities. The conference was an ideal opportunity for us to highlight some of the great work being done throughout the state and important quality and technology initiatives – including our Alternative Payment Methodology work being done with the state and the Statewide Data Exchange Framework. Each of these initiatives moves us toward our goal of value-based care that is rooted in data, propelling us forward to a new phase of community health.
These initiatives will change the way care is provided and maximize our health center workforce. Health centers are currently operating in a challenging labor market, navigating an unprecedented combination of labor market disruptions by recognizing, growing, and strengthening their workforce. CPCA worked alongside its members, regional clinic associations, and state departments to implement two major state clinic workforce investments – Clinic Workforce Stabilization and Retention Payments funds and Nurse Practitioner (NP) and Physician Assistant (PA) postgraduate training. By the time you read this, retention payments will have already gone out! Additionally, $5 million will be available this year to provide postgraduate fellowships for clinical training in primary care for both NPs and PAs.
I would be remiss in celebrating all of this amazing work without also acknowledging the impact this year’s unprecedented winter storms have had on CHCs. These storms have presented health centers with yet another challenge, but CHCs have once again demonstrated their resiliency and dedication to their communities. Despite power outages, limited transportation, and other obstacles, health centers have continued to provide essential health care services to those in need. It is a true testament to their unwavering commitment to improving the health and well-being of those they serve. Emergency preparedness continues to be of the utmost importance as climate change and weather-related events impact our communities year after year. CPCA is committed to supporting our members in ensuring they are well prepared with the resources necessary to respond to, and recover from, emergencies.
As we move into a new season, I am reminded of the renewed dedication we all bring to the health center movement and the great opportunities ahead for CHCs – working together to improve the health and well-being of our communities. Working together, rooted in our mission, we can overcome any obstacle. The future is bright, and I look forward to working with all of you as CHCs continue to play an important role in the healthcare landscape for years to come.