Virginia Health Care Foundation

The Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF) is a public/private partnership established in 1992 by the Virginia General Assembly and its Joint Commission on Health Care. Its mission is to enhance access to primary health care, including oral and behavioral health services, for uninsured and medically underserved populations in Virginia.

Programs and Activities

VHCF supports various initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes for Virginians. These include:

• Health Access: VHCF provides grants to help uninsured individuals access medical, dental, and mental health care through new approaches or by replicating successful models.
• Medicaid/FAMIS Application Assistance: VHCF’s Project Connect helps individuals and families enroll in Virginia's state-sponsored health insurance programs.
• Medication Assistance Programs: RxRelief Virginia grants facilitate access to free medications for chronic illnesses via pharmaceutical companies' patient assistance programs.
• Special Initiatives: These focus on addressing identified health needs, such as behavioral health integration and clinician workforce development.

Impact and Achievements

Since its inception, VHCF has made significant contributions to Virginia's healthcare landscape:

• Enrollment Efforts: VHCF has enrolled more than 150,000 Virginians in state-sponsored health insurance.
• Free Medications: Over $10 billion in free medications have been generated for nearly 373,000 individuals.
• Patient Visits: VHCF's efforts have made possible more than 4 million patient visits.
• Dental Safety Net: The organization has provided over $17 million in grants to establish or expand dental safety net practices.

VHCF has also demonstrated a strong return on investment, leveraging more than $11 in cash and in-kind contributions for every dollar expended[1][2].

Values and Governance

VHCF's culture reflects a commitment to Exemplary Stewardship, Drive for Excellence, being a Catalyst for Change, and Integrity. The organization emphasizes long-term sustainability and impact evaluation in its funding decisions[4].

Accountability

VHCF meets the Better Business Bureau’s 20 Standards for Charity Accountability, ensuring transparency and trust in its operations[1][2].