October 30, 2026
Health centers are navigating Medicaid redetermination, workforce shortage and ongoing financial pressures while continuing to meet their communities’ care needs. Trusted guidance and opportunities to learn from peers can help them respond to these challenges.
OCHIN’s Health Center Controlled Network (HCCN) provides this guidance and peer support to more than 100 participating health centers serving more than 4 million patients. Now in our 14th year of funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the OCHIN HCCN is one of the largest in the country.
Over the past year, our HCCN has worked closely with participating health centers to understand their strategic priorities, financial sustainability concerns and clinical goals. Those conversations have helped shape support for the new program year, with an expanded focus on value-based care, data use and the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence.
Connecting national expertise with local experience
Building on more than 25 years of collaborative, research-driven expertise, the OCHIN HCCN helps health centers adapt to an increasingly complex healthcare environment. Through four network partnerships and six electronic health record systems, our HCCN provided more than 300 hours of direct technical assistance over the past year. That support helped participating health centers:
- Advance value-based care
- Strengthen data interoperability
- Improve digital health strategies
- Adopt AI responsibly
“No organization has to navigate change alone,” said Rebecca Brookes, director of workforce development and program director for the OCHIN HCCN. “OCHIN’s HCCN brings the scale of a national network together with the experience of local communities, creating resilience, accelerating peer learning and giving organizations a platform to share and celebrate what is working.”
Preparing for value-based care
As value-based payment models become an increasingly important part of the healthcare environment, our HCCN is helping participating health centers build the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. Under these models, payment is tied to the quality of care and, in some cases, lower costs rather than the volume of services provided. Successfully navigating this transition can help health centers improve patient outcomes and support long-term financial sustainability.
OCHIN’s HCCN provides webinars, educational resources and peer-learning opportunities to meet health centers wherever they are in their value-based care journey. This consultative approach offers support tailored to each organization’s experience and goals.
Expanding training and data support
Beyond preparing for value-based care, OCHIN’s HCCN helps health centers use health information technology and data to deliver high-quality care. This year, the program will focus on strengthening interoperability, expanding digital engagement and improving operational efficiency.
Participating health centers can register for one-on-one training, peer-learning sessions and events led by OCHIN subject matter experts, with implementation support matched to each organization’s goals.
Our HCCN is also offering webinars on using data analytics to identify and engage patients who may lose Medicaid coverage during redetermination. This can help health centers maintain continuity of care, reduce coverage gaps and minimize potential revenue disruption.
“OCHIN’s HCCN provides us with access to training and knowledge we would not otherwise have. We have been able to take advantage of several training sessions that have greatly benefited our organization.”
— HCCN participant and OCHIN member in California
Promoting responsible AI adoption
As health centers expand their use of data and technology, many are also exploring artificial intelligence. AI offers opportunities to improve operations, enhance patient care and streamline workflows. Adopting these tools also raises important questions about governance, security and responsible use.
OCHIN’s HCCN is offering hands-on support, self-service resources and customized technical assistance to help participating health centers develop and implement AI policies. These efforts promote safe, fair and effective AI use.
This year, participating health centers can also join a six-part cohort-based training series designed to help them:
- Evaluate and approve AI vendors consistently
- Assess risk
- Integrate AI review into procurement and security workflows
Building on our momentum
These expanded areas of support reflect the HCCN’s continued focus on meeting health centers’ evolving needs. In the year ahead, our HCCN will build on the strength of our collaborative network and our commitment to working alongside participating health centers.
More than 90 OCHIN staff members will contribute to the program, helping health centers apply practical solutions to advance their operational and patient care goals. By the end of the program year, OCHIN’s HCCN aims to engage every participating health center with resources, solutions and peer-learning opportunities that strengthen operations and support patient care.
Learn more about OCHIN’s HCCN.
This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $2,955,000. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
