A letter from our Executive Director: NCACH's COVID-19 response

March 22, 2020

Dear NCACH Partners,

We are in a very unusual time in our region as everyone is mobilized to stop the spread of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus). We recognize that many of you are on the front lines of this crisis, working to provide our communities with the critical healthcare and support services they need. We see you, and we thank you.In an attempt to both help providers free up time to attend to the health needs of our community, as well as do our part to stop the spread of the coronavirus, NCACH will be pausing the majority of Medicaid Transformation Project activities until further notice. This includes cancelling our upcoming meetings, events, and partner reporting requirements for the foreseeable future, as well as transitioning our roles to be more active partners with our local health jurisdictions.The next coming weeks and months will challenge us all in ways big and small, but it is important that we continue to come together (virtually!) and lean in. It will take all of us to be a part of the solution.

Here’s what you can count on from NCACH:

Continued support for our partnersWhile some of our NCACH activities will be paused, we remain committed to supporting our partners so that they are able to focus their efforts on the emergent needs of the community. We will be working with our Governing Board and partners across our regional network to assist those on the front lines of pandemic response.You can contact our Deputy Director, John Schapman, with any questions you may have during this time.Accurate informationIn time when misinformation can and does go viral, NCACH remains committed to sharing accurate information that helps our communities stay as healthy as possible. We recommend these sources for COVID-19 related updates:

• Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
• Washington State Department of Health (DOH): https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus
• For updates specific to Chelan and Douglas Counties: https://cdhd.wa.gov/
• For updates specific to Grant County: http://granthealth.org/
• For updates specific to Okanogan County: https://www.okanogandem.org/

Community responseNCACH is working alongside our local public health districts to provide critical support for our communities during this time. We are working to strengthen community networks that have already mobilized across the region to provide support, connection, and resources for those who are practicing social isolation. Social distancing and social isolation are critical strategies for mitigating and managing the COVID-19 outbreak, and to prevent overwhelming our region’s healthcare providers and public health officials. Using our abilities to convene, coordinate, and fund, we hope to offset the burden placed upon the region’s boots-on-the-ground partners. Our response plan is still evolving based on the needs of our public health partners, but we will share more information once it becomes available.Together, we will weather this storm.

 Charge on!Linda Evans ParletteExecutive Director