Health Reform Initiatives Spur Collaboration between Hospitals and Federal Health Centers

Health reform initiatives will increase the need for collaboration between hospitals and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), says a March 2012 report from the Missouri Hospital Association and the Missouri Primary Care Association. The report, “Hospital and FQHC Collaboration: Findings and Opportunities,” identifies “promising practices for collaboration” between hospitals and FQHCs in light of federal government programs for accountable care organizations and medical homes. Among the promising practices are community or regional health councils, community medication assistance programs, urgent dental care clinics, healthy start programs, collaborative women’s health initiatives, and community referral coordination programs.