Aetna Injects $7.3M into Virginia FQHCs for Improved Cancer Outcomes

In partnership with the Virginia Community Healthcare Association (VCHA), Aetna Better Health of Virginia has allocated over $7 million in value-based care incentives to Virginia's federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) to enhance cancer outcomes.

"Harmful disparities exist in health outcomes among minorities, the poor and those who live in rural communities," Tracy Douglas, CEO of VCHA, said in a press release "Those disparities, often related to social determinants of health, lead to suffering and death in patients, despite many having received intervention from our health centers.”

“When VCHA learned that Aetna shared our desire to address these challenges, we saw an opportunity to facilitate conversations with our membership,” Douglas added. “As a result, most of our member health centers secured funds to bolster their capabilities to drive quality outcomes.”

Ample evidence reveals not just lower cancer screening rates among Black, Hispanic, Asian, and AI/AN populations compared to Whites, but also poorer cancer outcomes and survival rates.

Community-based health centers, often sited in underserved regions, facilitate healthcare engagement for marginalized populations.

As providers of essential primary care to nearly 30 million low-income patients, FQHCs are in a unique position to confront these pervasive health disparities.

The allocated funds are intended to enhance care quality at health centers by supporting their population health management initiatives and boosting screenings for diabetes and breast, cervical, and colon cancers.

Additionally, the funds will be used to update the FQHCs’ EHRs and integrate with VCHA's population health platform. This move aims to enhance patient care, health outcomes, and potentially boost in-house cancer screening capabilities.

"Community Health Centers provide immeasurable value to the communities and members they serve – they enable access to care that otherwise would not exist for many under-resourced populations," said Joel Gray, chief executive officer of Aetna Better Health of Virginia. "The health centers also provide more than just health care services; they provide education and care that empowers people to have more control of their health. We feel confident this partnership will drive improved health outcomes for our members, as well as increase access to important health screenings and other preventive care services."

Moreover, the partnership will bolster FQHCs’ value-based care goals. The model of value-based care links provider reimbursement directly with the accomplishment of specific healthcare benchmarks, creating an incentive to provide more efficient and effective care. In this model, providers are rewarded not for the volume of services they deliver, but for the quality of those services, fostering an environment that prioritizes patient health outcomes.

"Community Health Centers operate on razor-thin margins," explained Douglas. "The funds provided through these incentives allow our health centers to move closer to value-based care without diverting operational dollars from patient care."