The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is seeking rural health clinics interested in piloting a new alternative payment model (APM). The pilot will also include interested federally qualified health centers. Facilities interested in piloting the new model must sign a letter of intent by December 31, and work with HCA to finalize a memorandum of understanding in the following months.
The new model adds quality measures as a component of payment and potentially may provide clinics with greater flexibility in care delivery. A stakeholder group including WSHA, the Rural Health Clinic Association of Washington, and the Washington Association of Migrant and Community Clinics met with HCA on a regular basis for nearly a year to determine details of the payment model. Despite the work done, a significant number of critical details remain to be determined, including the payment rate calculation, reconciliation, and implementation and calculation of quality measures. Working with the relevant member associations, HCA plans to distribute copies of the request for letters of intent, which includes a high-level summary of the model. Interested rural health clinics may receive copies from either WSHA or RHCAW in the coming week. (Andrew Busz, andrewb@wsha.org).
