SJ324: Commending the Virginia Health Care Foundation.
WHEREAS, the General Assembly of Virginia initiated the creation of the Virginia Health Care Foundation in 1992 as a public/private partnership with the mission of increasing access to primary health care for uninsured and medically underserved Virginians through innovative service delivery models; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Health Care Foundation has consistently and creatively engaged in venture philanthropy to achieve its mission by requiring each grant applicant to have viable business and operations plans prior to receiving funding; this foresight has resulted in an impressive 89 percent sustainability rate for all local initiatives supported by the Virginia Health Care Foundation for up to three years after graduating from foundation funding; and
WHEREAS, this disciplined approach has resulted in a substantial increase in the number of health safety net sites operated by free and charitable clinics, community health centers, and other similar organizations from 33 sites when the Virginia Health Care Foundation was established to 214 sites that provided needed health care to more than 200,000 uninsured Virginians in 2016; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Health Care Foundation has invested in expanding the scope of services within Virginia’s health safety net organizations with $12.7 million to establish or expand 46 of Virginia’s 86 dental safety net clinics and with $4.7 million since 2010 to initiate the delivery of behavioral health services; and
WHEREAS, since its inception, the Virginia Health Care Foundation has been on the frontlines of providing health care for uninsured Virginians by funding 216 physicians, nurse practitioners, dentists, behavioral health professionals and other health providers in Virginia’s health care safety net, who have treated tens of thousands of uninsured Virginians via 3.1 million patient visits; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Health Care Foundation has employed a multifaceted approach to increase access to health care, including development of its Project Connect and SignUpNow initiatives to maximize the number of eligible children who have health insurance through Virginia’s FAMIS (Family Access to Medical Insurance Security) programs and foundation-funded outreach workers have helped more than 91,500 children enroll in the past 17 years; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Health Care Foundation’s entrepreneurial culture and drive to leverage its state appropriation have led the foundation to regularly create new and innovative initiatives to fulfill its mission, including development of The Pharmacy Connection, a web-based software program that expedites access to free prescription medicines for chronic diseases from the brand name pharmaceutical companies’ Patient Assistance Programs and several discount generic programs, which has enabled 306,000 sick, uninsured Virginians to obtain $4.6 billion in free medicine over the past 20 years; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Health Care Foundation’s constant quest for new opportunities has led it to incubate and spin off several successful freestanding initiatives, including the RxPartnership, the Virginia Oral Health Coalition, and SeniorNavigator, which has evolved into the VirginiaNavigator family of websites and now includes DisabilityNavigator and VeteransNavigator, all of which house an extensive database of public and private services that are the cornerstone of the Commonwealth’s No Wrong Door initiative; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Health Care Foundation’s collaborative approach with Virginia’s health-related agencies and many private sector partners, has enabled it to provide a tremendous return on the Commonwealth’s investment, leveraging an average of more than $11 for each $1 expended since inception, including $12.2 million in challenge grants and matching funds; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Health Care Foundation’s many accomplishments have been achieved with low administrative costs, which represented only 7.7 percent of total expenditures in FY16; and
WHEREAS, many of the Commonwealth’s finest corporations, organizations, and individuals have contributed generously to the Virginia Health Care Foundation over the years, and their support of this effective and dynamic organization has increased access to primary health care for Virginia’s uninsured and medically underserved citizens; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Virginia Health Care Foundation for its outstanding service to the Commonwealth and its many successful efforts to increase access to primary health care for Virginia’s uninsured citizens on the occasion of its 25th anniversary; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Virginia Health Care Foundation as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for its dedication to ensuring quality health care for all Virginians.
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 324
WHEREAS, the General Assembly of Virginia initiated the creation of the Virginia Health Care Foundation in 1992 as a public/private partnership with the mission of increasing access to primary health care for uninsured and medically underserved Virginians through innovative service delivery models; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Health Care Foundation has consistently and creatively engaged in venture philanthropy to achieve its mission by requiring each grant applicant to have viable business and operations plans prior to receiving funding; this foresight has resulted in an impressive 89 percent sustainability rate for all local initiatives supported by the Virginia Health Care Foundation for up to three years after graduating from foundation funding; and
WHEREAS, this disciplined approach has resulted in a substantial increase in the number of health safety net sites operated by free and charitable clinics, community health centers, and other similar organizations from 33 sites when the Virginia Health Care Foundation was established to 214 sites that provided needed health care to more than 200,000 uninsured Virginians in 2016; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Health Care Foundation has also invested in expanding the scope of services within Virginia’s health safety net organizations with $12.7 million to establish or expand 46 of Virginia’s 86 dental safety net clinics and with $4.7 million since 2010 to initiate the delivery of behavioral health services; and
WHEREAS, since its inception, the Virginia Health Care Foundation has been on the frontlines of providing healthcare for uninsured Virginians by funding 216 physicians, nurse practitioners, dentists, behavioral health professionals and other health providers in Virginia’s healthcare safety net, who have treated tens of thousands of uninsured Virginians via 3.1 million patient visits; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Health Care Foundation has employed a multifaceted approach to increase access to health care, including development of its Project Connect and SignUpNow initiatives to maximize the number of eligible children who have health insurance through Virginia’s FAMIS (Family Access to Medical Insurance Security) programs and foundation-funded outreach workers have helped more than 91,500 children enroll in the past 17 years; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Health Care Foundation’s entrepreneurial culture and drive to leverage its state appropriation have led the foundation to regularly create new and innovative initiatives to fulfill its mission, including development of The Pharmacy Connection, a web-based software program that expedites access to free prescription medicines for chronic diseases from the brand name pharmaceutical companies’ Patient Assistance Programs and several discount generic programs, which has enabled 306,000 sick, uninsured Virginians to obtain $4.6 billion in free medicine over the past 20 years; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Health Care Foundation’s constant quest for new opportunities has led it to incubate and spin off several successful freestanding initiatives, including the RxPartnership, the Virginia Oral Health Coalition, and SeniorNavigator, which has evolved into the VirginiaNavigator family of websites and now includes DisabilityNavigator and VeteransNavigator, all of which house an extensive database of public and private services that are the cornerstone of the Commonwealth’s No Wrong Door initiative; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Health Care Foundation’s collaborative approach with Virginia’s health-related agencies and many private sector partners, has enabled it to provide a tremendous return on the Commonwealth’s investment, leveraging an average of more than $11 for each $1 expended since inception, including $12.2 million in challenge grants and matching funds; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Health Care Foundation’s many accomplishments have been achieved with low administrative costs, which represented only 7.7 percent of total expenditures in FY16; and
WHEREAS, many of the Commonwealth’s finest corporations, organizations, and individuals have contributed generously to the Virginia Health Care Foundation over the years, and their support of this effective and dynamic organization has increased access to primary health care for Virginia’s uninsured and medically underserved citizens; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Virginia Health Care Foundation for its outstanding service to the Commonwealth and its many successful efforts to increase access to primary health care for Virginia’s uninsured citizens on the occasion of its 25th anniversary; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Virginia Health Care Foundation as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for it dedication to ensuring quality health care for all Virginians.