The purpose of this request for information (RFI) is to identify primary care safety-net providers that may be interested in participating in a California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) initiative in 2023–24 to help strengthen their capacity to serve older adults. Submitting a response to this RFI is the required first step of the application process.
Request for Information: Strengthening Capacity of Safety-Net Providers to Care for an Aging Population
Date posted: November 4, 2022
Submission Due Date: December 9, 2022
Related Tags:
Older Adults with Complex Needs
This is archived content, for historical reference only.
Purpose
Background
In the first quarter of 2023, CHCF plans to launch an 18-month initiative (pending project approval) called “Strengthening Capacity of Safety-Net Providers to Care for an Aging Population.” CHCF is considering ways to support California safety-net primary care provider organizations with some combination of technical assistance, funding, and peer learning activities with the goal of helping to increase their capacity to serve older adults. CHCF will use this RFI to gauge interest and assess needs.
This effort is motivated by the findings and opportunities described in the CHCF report, Improving Care for California’s Older Adults: The Role of Community Health Centers and Public Hospital Systems. The report found that while older adults are the fastest-growing segment of California’s community health centers (CHCs), most of these organizations have not yet developed specific strategies or services aimed at supporting this population. However, CHCs are well positioned to provide coordinated, integrated, high-quality care to older adults, given their unique skill set and culture supporting comprehensive care for complex populations. While some CHCs are on the leading edge of developing specific programs and services for older adults, others are aware of the need to prepare and adapt but have not yet done so. CHCF is exploring opportunities to potentially help both types of organizations accelerate their progress through this initiative.
Pending project approval, CHCF plans to support five to eight Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), non-FQHC community health centers, or public health care system outpatient primary care clinics to plan and implement projects that advance the organizations’ readiness and ability to care for an aging population.
The full RFI, including information on potential program elements and a list of questions for interested organizations to develop response submissions, is available under “Document Downloads.”
Instructions
This RFI is the required first step in the application process for this initiative. If sufficient interest is demonstrated through responses to the RFI, we anticipate releasing a more detailed request for proposals (RFP) in early 2023 (pending project approval), that would outline the program design and participation requirements. Participants would be selected based on RFP responses.
Any organization that may be interested in applying to participate in the initiative must complete the RFI. We suggest that the responses be completed by people/teams with both clinical and operational roles at the applicant organization. Completing the RFI does not obligate the organization to complete the subsequent RFP.
To submit your response to the RFI, upload a PDF or Microsoft Word version below no later than 5:00 PM (PT) on Friday, December 9. Submissions should not exceed three pages (not including the question text). Be sure to name your PDF file the name of your organization (i.e., Clinic_Name.pdf).
If you have any questions about the RFI, please contact Kate Meyers, senior program officer.