Strategic Priority Areas

The Foundation has four major strategic priority areas:

Improve Access to Basic Healthcare

The uninsured rate in the Obici Healthcare Foundation’s service area ranges from 14.4% in Suffolk to 25% in Gates County, NC. The uninsured and underinsured often go without medical care or end up using the emergency room for the care they need. Individuals need medical homes where they have adequate access to primary and routine care, diagnostic services, medication, health education and resource referrals.

Based on community input and the changing healthcare environment, the Foundation will give priority to proposals that best provide access to a medical home and coordinated access to services in these areas:

Primary medical care
Mental health services
Maternal and child health services
Dental care

Medications
Nutritional education
Medically necessary transportation
Nutritious food distribution

Grantees providing these resources to individuals are encouraged to work to assure individuals have a primary care provider/medical home as part of their program design.

Obesity Prevention

According to research, behavior, poor nutrition, environment, sedentary lifestyles, cultural customs and beliefs, income and lack of information play a large role in causing people to be obese. Prevention is recognized as the most effective approach for battling obesity. Early childhood presents the optimum opportunity to focus on obesity, especially if remediation strategies include persons and institutions that influence children, such as parents, teachers, physicians/pediatricians, peers, schools and afterschool programs. The Foundation will support programs that provide comprehensive, evidence-based obesity proposals. Proposals should demonstrate widespread community support and involvement.

Chronic Disease Management

Chronic diseases are defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as, “Those diseases that are prolonged, do not resolve spontaneously and for which a complete recovery is rarely achieved.” A report published by the Virginia Department of Health (2006) estimated that there are 2.2 million Virginians living with a chronic disease. Each year chronic disease care costs the state about $24.6 billion.

Funding preference will be given to coordinated, cost effective and patient-centered solutions that support the early detection, intervention, and management of the following chronic diseases:

Diabetes
Hypertension
Heart disease
Stroke
Lower respiratory diseases

Grantees providing these services are also encouraged to work to assume individuals have been screened for eligibility with Medicaid.

Insure More People

A study conducted by the Virginia Health Care Foundation reported that 1 million Virginians (about 15%) are uninsured. The ranks of the uninsured are not limited to the unemployed, as nearly 74% of the uninsured in the state live in households with at least one full-time worker. Many Western Tidewater residents are eligible for publicly-funded insurance products but are not enrolled. In addition, many workers qualify for employer sponsored medical insurance but cannot afford the co-payments or premiums. The Foundation will support programs that increase enrollment in FAMIS, Medicaid and Medicare Part B and/or D. In addition, we support innovative strategies that expand participation in employer-based insurance products.