The mission of the Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF) is to increase access to healthcare for uninsured Virginians and those who live in areas with limited access to care. They aim to address barriers to healthcare access which can be caused by a variety of factors, including economic and geographic constraints.
The Health Access Grants program by VHCF focuses on initiatives that improve healthcare access for uninsured and medically underserved populations in Virginia. Broad goals of the program include:
Developing or Expanding Capacity: This encompasses creating new healthcare outlets for uninsured or medically underserved Virginians and enabling existing programs to serve more patients. It includes adding primary care providers, expanding physical infrastructure, utilizing technology such as telemedicine, and implementing innovative service delivery models.
Establishing a Broader Scope of Services: The program supports adding new primary care services like mental health and dental care, instituting programs for the care of uninsured, chronically ill patients, and utilizing technology to enhance access to care in underserved areas.
Accelerating Licensure of Behavioral Health Professionals: VHCF aims to address the shortage of behavioral health professionals by funding salaries and benefits for masters-prepared therapists under the supervision required for licensure.
Creating Local Coordinated Systems of Care: The foundation encourages initiatives that foster community-wide coordinated care networks for the uninsured and medically underserved, aiming for greater efficiencies and inter-organizational synergies.
Conquering the Consequences of COVID-19: VHCF supports services or initiatives that increase the availability of mental health services, particularly addressing the heightened need due to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on mental health.