Name
Behind the Scenes of Integrated Care: How Primary Care Associations Strengthen Community Health Centers Across Georgia, Iowa & Michigan
Description

Primary Care Associations (PCAs) serve as a critical bridge between policy, practice, and community in the delivery of integrated healthcare. This session explores how PCAs support community health center teams in advancing collaborative, whole‑person care through technical assistance, workforce development, quality improvement, and systems‑level coordination. Attendees will learn how PCAs help translate integrated care principles into sustainable, real‑world practice across diverse settings. Practical examples from Iowa, Michigan and Georgia will illustrate how PCAs partner with health centers to address challenges related to operationalizing models of integration, policy and finances, and team‑based care dynamics. This session is designed for participants seeking a systems‑level perspective that complements day‑to‑day clinical integration work.

Content Level
All Audience
Tags
Financing and Operational Sustainability, Sustainability, Technical assistance
Session Type
Concurrent
Objective 1
Describe the core functions of Primary Care Associations and their role in supporting interdisciplinary, integrated healthcare teams.
Objective 2
Identify practical strategies used by Primary Care Associations to advance behavioral health integration, workforce development, and quality improvement across diverse primary care settings.
Objective 3
Apply systems level insights and tools to strengthen collaboration between clinical teams, Primary Care Associations, and community partners in participants’ own contexts.
Content Reference 1

National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC): What is a PCA?

Content Reference 2

NACHC: Emerging Issues in the FQHC Medicaid Prospective Payment System

Content Reference 3

AHRQ: What is Integrated Behavioral Health

Content Reference 4

The Michigan Opioid Settlement and Overdose Data to Action (MOSODA) Program

Content Reference 5

https://georgiapca.org/