(HOWARD, SD) – In a recent announcement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Horizon Health Care, Inc. (Horizon) has been named as one of five health centers in South Dakota to receive funding dedicated to recognized their health center’s quality improvement efforts. Nationwide, more than $100 million was awarded to 1,304 health centers across the United States.
“Horizon is very pleased to be recognized again for the high quality of care our patients receive through this quality improvement award,” said Lindsey Karlson, Horizon’s Director of Quality Improvement. “As community health centers, our clinicians, nurses, and support staff provide care to patients from diverse backgrounds and rural communities, many of whom would not have access to healthcare otherwise. This award acknowledges that rural healthcare quality can compete and many times exceed the quality of healthcare provided in more urban areas.”
Locally, Horizon will receive nearly $60,000 in recognition of their continuous quality improvement efforts. Health centers receive these funds based upon high levels of performance in one or more of the following categories: Improving Quality Care, Advancing Health Equity, Maintaining Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition, Enhancing Access to Care, and Delivering Value. This funding comes from the Affordable Care Act’s Community Health Center (CHC) Fund, which was extended with bipartisan support in the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) of 2015.
These quality improvement awards are designed to support health centers in continuing to deliver health care that engages patients, improves care coordination, and enhances overall access to care.
For over 38 years, Horizon Health Care, Inc. has been providing personalized, affordable, high-quality medical, dental and mental health care through a rural, community-based network in South Dakota. Horizon is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that serves the medical, dental and mental health care needs of South Dakotans in rural, medically underserved areas through 83,000 patient visits annually in 25 community health centers in: Aberdeen, Bison, Bryant, De Smet, Eagle Butte, Faith, Fort Thompson, Howard, Huron, Isabel, La Plant, Lake Preston, Martin, McIntosh, Mission, Plankinton, Wessington Springs, White River and Woonsocket. For more information please visit www.horizonhealthcare.org.