What is the goal of the Education Health Center Initiative?

To reduce physician shortages in Health Centers and help primary care training by creating a new model of partnership between health centers and family medicine residencies with a shared mission of service and education.

What is the EHCI's proposed solution?

One approach is to create an expanded Education Health Center. Such a center must have:

1. a single governance structure to support the mission of service and education.
2. a 51% user board consistent with the PHS 330 regulations.
3. one CEO, responsible to the board, who oversees all operations and is responsible for the education and service missions.
4. the respective institutional requirements of underserved community-based service and family medicine educational training, though specific location and performance measures may need to be adjusted or waived.

The expanded Education Health Center would receive:

1. Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement based on 100% of allowable costs and the Medicare cost principles.
2. additional reimbursement for educational expenses. Cost reports will allow for cost-based accounting of educational expenses.
3. additional loan repayment and increased salaries for Residents and providers.
4. access to Federal Tort Claims Act malpractice coverage that extends to faculty and residents at all training sites.
5. eligibility to be institutional sponsors for Graduate Medical Education (GME) and can receive GME payments (Direct and Indirect Medical Education payments).
6. funding for the startup costs of residency program accreditation.