CVS Caremark Charitable Trust, NACHC form 'Innovations in Community Health' program
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark Charitable Trust has teamed up with the National Association of Community Health Centers through a $3 million multiyear partnership.
The charitable arm of CVS Caremark said that beginning next year, the "Innovations in Community Health" program will make grants available to community health centers across the country to support the development of innovative, community-based programs and initiatives to manage chronic diseases. Funding through the grant program will support a variety of programs, including:
Healthcare models that promote coordinated care for patients managing chronic diseases;
Healthcare models that include education and tracking methods for promoting medication adherence for patients managing chronic diseases; and
Technology and IT services that enable healthcare providers to more effectively plan therapies or promote communication among a network of healthcare providers serving collaborative care for patients managing chronic diseases.
Applications for "Innovations in Community Health" grants will be open to NACHC members in select states. NACHC will distribute the application to members the week of July 30.
"The CVS Caremark Charitable Trust is committed to supporting organizations that are providing greater access to healthcare and medical services, and this partnership with the National Association of Community Health Centers will go a long way in that effort," CVS Caremark Charitable Trust VP Eileen Howard Boone said. "We know that while treatment outcomes are improving, the rates of chronic disease are increasing and health centers play a vital role in providing affordable, quality health care services for those who need it most."
More than half of Americans suffer from one or more chronic diseases, and that number is expected to grow in the next decade, CVS Caremark noted. With its focus on the treatment and management of chronic illnesses, specifically heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and asthma, the "Innovations in Community Health" grant program aligns with CVS Caremark's purpose to help people on their path to better health.
"With the recent Supreme Court ruling on healthcare reform, we now know that millions more will gain insurance coverage in the near future. However, as we also know from the experience in Massachusetts, there will be gaps. Further, we also know that having insurance coverage alone will not ensure effective management of patients with multiple chronic conditions," NACHC president and CEO Tom Van Coverden said. "By working with the CVS Caremark Charitable Trust, we will be able to provide the crucial support to community health centers across the country ensuring not only access to health care, but also improving the lives of thousands of Americans."
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