The Washington Health Care Authority has awarded Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department a $100,000 design grant to lead the Pierce County Regional Service Area (RSA) starting in April 2016. It’s one of nine grants awarded to RSAs around the state to support Accountable Communities of Health.

ACH brings together public and private entities to work on shared regional health goals — not only health care, but other elements that affect health such as education and housing. Collectively, the ACHs support Healthier Washington, the state’s effort to help ensure better health, better care and lower costs for Washington residents. A $65 million federal grant the state won in December is providing funding for the ACH grants.

“The Health Department and its partners in Pierce County are already engaged in important work to improve residents’ health and their health care experience,” said Anthony L-T Chen, MD, MPH, director of health. “As a group, we are aligned with the mission of collaboratively transforming the health system so that all residents have access to quality care and resources to prevent disease and improve health in cost effective ways. The grant will help us continue this important work.”

Many partners in Pierce County need to have a role in setting the course for the changes needed under ACH, Chen explained. This diverse group includes community coalitions, Medicaid-managed care plans, insurance companies, businesses that purchase health care, community clinics, healthcare systems, military medical command, physician groups, mental health providers, labor organizations, and state and local government.