NCW Region to Receive Rural Transformation Grant for Health Care

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services provided the state a $5 million Community Health Access and Rural Transformation (CHART) Model grant to apply toward the North Central Washington region. This funding is earmarked for rural communities in Chelan, Douglas, Grant and Okanogan counties.

The federal funding will be handled through Washington State Health Care Authority, North Central Accountable Community of Health and partners. The $5 million grant is tied to achieving milestones through the model. The funding will be guided by collaborative efforts and federally approved plans.

"The overall goal of the CHART Model [that the federal government put out] is to address disparities in health equity by improving access to quality health care and sustainability of health care systems in rural communities," said Rachel Quinn, Health Care Authority’s lead for the CHART Model.

Rural communities experience health care inequities in comparison to urban areas. According to Quinn, rural populations tend to be older and the healthcare workforce in these areas have a harder time recruiting and retaining personnel.

The model spans seven years and starts this fall.