Prathiba Pinnamaneni, Sr. Community Health Program Manager at Kaiser Permanente of Washington, announced the grant at our recent Leadership Circle meeting.
Kaiser Permanente announced a major, three-year grant that will fund specialty care coordination for hundreds of patients in Washington. Kaiser Permanente has provided more than $1.7 million in funding for Project Access Northwest since 2016.
Kaiser Permanente will fund specialty care coordination for hundreds of patients in Washington over the next three years
Kaiser Permanente in Washington announced this month a $725,000 grant to support Project Access Northwest’s Specialty Care Coordination Program, with funds to be distributed over a three-year period.
Recent studies reveal that more than 785,000 people in Washington live in poverty, and 428,000 did not have health insurance in 2021. People with difficulty accessing specialty care may not receive equitable health care.
Project Access Northwest collaborates with the health care community to meet the needs of low-income and uninsured individuals with limited access to specialty care. Our care coordinators help patients navigate the complex health care system and connect them with compassionate doctors willing to provide the specialty services they need.
“Kaiser Permanente doctors and clinicians have donated their time to provide hundreds of visits for Project Access Northwest patients per year, including 197 in 2021,” said Christine Chauvet-Pizzute, MD, senior director of specialty care at Kaiser Permanente in Washington. “We are proud that this funding will add more providers to the specialty care network each year for three years, adding hundreds of new appointments to serve patients and contribute to better health outcomes in these counties.”
“With this three-year grant, Kaiser Permanente has made a significant investment in the health of our community,” said Gary Renville, executive director of Project Access Northwest. “We are proud to partner with Kaiser Permanente on the critically important work of improving health care access for the most vulnerable patients who so desperately need care.”
Kaiser Permanente has provided more than $1.7 million in funding for Project Access Northwest since 2016, in support of our mission to improve community health by connecting those most vulnerable to vital health care services.
Connecting patients to the specialty care they need
Vulnerable patients in need of specialty care are referred to Project Access Northwest from primary care providers at Federally Qualified Health Centers, including Country Doctor Community Clinic, HealthPoint, International Community Health Services, Neighborcare Health, Sea Mar Community Health Center, and Seattle Indian Health Board in King County; Peninsula Community Health Services in Kitsap County; and Community Health Center of Snohomish County and Sea Mar Community Health Center in Snohomish County.
Project Access Northwest works with all of the region’s major health care systems and a network of more than 1,760 volunteer providers in King, Kitsap, and Snohomish counties to connect those who are referred to appropriate care in more than 50 specialties — all at no cost to the patient.
Since 2006, Project Access Northwest has provided specialty care access to more than 43,000 low-income or uninsured individuals, living at or below 300% of the federal poverty level.