NVRH and NEK Prosper announce Healthy Cents Fund

Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital (NVRH) and NEK Prosper – Caledonia and Southern Essex’s Accountable Health Community have launched the NEK Prosper Healthy Cents Fund. The Healthy Cents Fund provides multi-year funding for organizations serving people in the NVRH service area of Caledonia and southern Essex counties.

The purpose of the NEK Prosper Healthy Cents Fund is to provide funding for projects that will create healthy and thriving communities and positive social, economic or environmental impact across a wide range of areas, including things like affordable and supportive housing, healthy food production and access, transportation, education and arts and culture.

 “These types of prevention or wellness funds are popping up all around the country,” NVRH VP Marketing and Community Health Improvement Laural Ruggles said. “They are seen as an effective way to move healthcare dollars from treating illness to preventing illness, while addressing the issues that make it hard for people to be healthy in the first place, like not having enough healthy food to eat.”

The money for the fund comes from the Medicaid capitated payments NVRH receives through OneCareVT, the statewide Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) as part of Vermont healthcare payment reform and the All Payer Model. The NEK Prosper Healthy Cents Fund will be held and managed at NVRH.

“We are making an investment in the health of our region,” said NVRH CEO Shawn Tester said. “By addressing social factors and prevention efforts, we may, in time, keep people healthier for longer, and that will decrease spending on medical care.”

Applications are accepted until 5 p.m. on March 13, 2020. The projects must contribute to healthy and thriving communities by addressing social determinants and prevention opportunities, accelerate the work of NEK Prosper, and be tied to at least one of the NEK Prosper outcome areas of well-nourished, well-housed, mentally healthy, physically health or financially secure.

To download all the information to apply, visit nekprosper.org. Questions can be directed to Laural Ruggles at 748-7590.