October 30, 2026
Health centers are navigating Medicaid redetermination, workforce shortages and ongoing financial pressures while continuing to meet their communities’ care needs. Connecting with trusted experts and peers can help them respond to these challenges and prepare for what comes next.
OCHIN’s Health Center Controlled Network (HCCN) provides this guidance and peer connection 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 shaped 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
Drawing on more than 25 years of collaborative, research-driven expertise, OCHIN’s HCCN helps health centers adapt to an increasingly complex healthcare environment. Across 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 enabled participating health centers to:
- 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 equipping participating health centers with 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. For health centers, successfully navigating this transition can help improve patient outcomes while supporting 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 allows OCHIN to tailor guidance 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 support 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. Its adoption also raises important questions about governance, security and responsible use.
OCHIN’s HCCN is offering hands-on guidance, 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, more than 90 OCHIN staff members will work alongside participating health centers to turn shared knowledge into practical solutions that advance their operational and patient care goals.
By the end of the program year, OCHIN’s HCCN aims to engage every participating health center through resources, technical assistance and peer-learning opportunities that help organizations strengthen operations and continue meeting the needs of their communities.
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.
