The MolinaCares Accord Presents $200,000 Grant to the Iowa Primary Care Association for New Phase of Health Equity Initiative

10/17/2024

This grant supplements previous giving for a total investment of $400,000

DES MOINES, Iowa, Oct. 17, 2024 - The MolinaCares Accord ("MolinaCares"), in conjunction with Molina Healthcare of Iowa ("Molina"), presented the Iowa Primary Care Association and their member community health centers with a $200,000 grant for resources to support the next phase in their innovative program to address health disparities and inequities in rural and under-resourced areas throughout Iowa.

Over the past year, community health centers in Iowa collaborated with the Iowa Primary Care Association on the Advancing Health Equity and Addressing Disparities (AHEAD) initiative. A $200,000 MolinaCares grant, in part, funded training and technical assistance at the health centers to develop strategies to address social drivers of health issues such as food insecurity, lack of transportation and housing insecurity.

This funding helps to advance the initiative through a strategic implementation plan, focusing on both statewide and local strategies. At the local level, health equity champions continue to lead communication, strategy and execution of local strategies to advance health equity and address disparities. Community health centers are focused on several strategies which include training and education, embedding health equity into operations, addressing social drivers of health and amplifying community voice through boards and patient committees.

"Molina is excited to see the progress of the AHEAD initiative and is proud to support the next phase of the Iowa Primary Care Association's plan," said Jennifer Vermeer, plan president for Molina Healthcare of Iowa. "We are committed to ensuring Iowans across the state have access to the care they deserve and this approach helps guide much-needed resources to our rural communities."
The MolinaCares Accord investment also supports the 14 community health centers in their work to directly address identified inequities. It will also fund inclusive workforce strategies, staff training around health disparities, enhancing patient engagement, and developing patient, family and stakeholder advisory councils to reflect the needs of the local communities.

"The support from The MolinaCares Accord has been vital as we work to advance health equity and address disparities across the state of Iowa and I am proud that community health centers are leaders in this space," said Aaron Todd, chief executive officer of the Iowa Primary Care Association. "Unaddressed needs put further strain on our healthcare system and costs taxpayers dollars; this investment will have a strong return on investment and allow Iowans to more fully realize their health potential. We are
excited to embark on this next phase in collaboration with Molina!"

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About The MolinaCares Accord
Established by Molina Healthcare, Inc. in 2020, The MolinaCares Accord oversees a community investment platform created to improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations by funding meaningful, measurable, and innovative programs and solutions that improve health, life, and living in local communities. The MolinaCares Accord funds such measures through The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3) established in 2020 by Molina Healthcare, Inc.

About Molina Healthcare of Iowa
Molina Healthcare of Iowa, Inc. provides government-funded, quality health care, serving members through the Medicaid program in Iowa. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, provides managed health care services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs, and through state insurance marketplaces. For more information about Molina Healthcare of Iowa, visit MolinaHealthcare.com.