THE ORGANIZATION IS DESIGNATED AN ACCOUNTABLE COMMUNITY OF HEALTH (ACH) BY THE HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY (HCA). THE STATE OF WASHINGTON'S HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY, THE AGENCY OVERSEEING ALL NINE STATEWIDE ACHS, HAS DEVELOPED THE FOLLOWING KEY FUNCTIONS OF AN ACH; 1. SELECT AND MONITOR MEDICAID DEMONSTRATION TRANSFORMATION PROJECTS AND ENSURE THAT THE PROJECTS ARE SUCCESSFUL. 2. SERVE AS THE SINGLE POINT OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR TRANSFORMATION PROJECTS. 3. BE A DEFINED LEGAL ENTITY IN ORDER TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES (CMS). 4. HAVE A GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE THAT IS MULTI-SECTOR, HAS BALANCED ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS, IS TRANSPARENT, AND DEMONSTRATES EFFECTIVE DECISION MAKING PROCESSES. 5. DEMONSTRATE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS THROUGH LETTERS OF UNDERSTANDING GUIDED BY YEARLY CONTRACTS WITH THE HCA, ACHS WERE REQUIRED TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A REGIONAL HEALTH IMPROVMENT PLAN, AND IMPLEMENT AT LEAST ONE REGIONAL HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AS A PILOT PROJECT.
