MDHHS Selects MiHIA to Coordinate Regional Effort to Improve Chronic Disease Outcomes in Ten Counties
The Michigan Health Improvement Alliance (MiHIA) has been awarded a $1.5 million Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) subaward from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to lead a regional effort aimed at improving health outcomes and strengthening care coordination across ten Central Michigan counties.
Funded through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the award will support the creation of the Central Michigan Regional Care Collaborative, a multi-sector initiative focused on preventing and managing chronic diseases, improving access to care, and addressing barriers that contribute to poor health outcomes in rural communities.
The initiative will serve residents in Allegan, Arenac, Barry, Bay, Gratiot, Midland, Montcalm, Osceola, Saginaw, and Shiawassee counties, with a particular emphasis on improving diabetes and hypertension prevention, management, and control.
Chronic diseases remain among the leading causes of illness, disability, and healthcare costs in Michigan. Rural communities often face additional challenges, including limited access to healthcare services, transportation barriers, workforce shortages, and gaps in care coordination. Through this investment, MiHIA and its partners will work to build stronger connections between healthcare providers, public health agencies, employers, and community organizations to ensure residents receive coordinated, person-centered support.
The long-term goal of the Central Michigan Regional Care Collaborative is to pilot and scale evidence-based interventions that improve outcomes for diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic conditions while leveraging existing rural health and statewide networks. By aligning and strengthening resources that already exist across the region, the Care Collaborative seeks to create sustainable systems that improve health outcomes and advance health equity in rural communities.
“This award represents an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen the systems that support health across our region,” said Heidi Tracy, Chief Executive Officer of MiHIA. “Rather than creating new programs in isolation, we will bring together healthcare providers, public health agencies, employers, community organizations, and local leaders to build a coordinated approach to chronic disease prevention and management. By leveraging the strengths that already exist within our communities, we can improve health outcomes, reduce barriers to care, and create lasting change for rural residents.”
As the lead organization, MiHIA will convene partners across sectors to identify regional assets, strengthen referral networks, support evidence-based chronic disease interventions, and improve coordination between clinical and community services. The initiative will also support community health workers and other care navigation strategies that help individuals connect with the resources and services they need to better manage their health.
MiHIA will collaborate closely with the Michigan Public Health Association and a broad network of healthcare providers, public health agencies, community-based organizations, businesses, and local leaders to develop sustainable solutions that address both the medical and social factors that influence health.
The Rural Health Transformation Program represents a historic federal investment in improving health outcomes in rural America. Through Michigan’s implementation of the program, regional collaboratives are being established across the state to support innovative, community-driven approaches that improve population health and strengthen local systems of care.
As the Care Collaborative continues to take shape, MiHIA invites healthcare providers, community-based organizations, public health professionals, employers, and regional community leaders to engage in this growing effort. Stakeholders interested in staying informed, receiving invitations to webinars and summits, and exploring opportunities to partner in advancing chronic disease prevention and management are encouraged to subscribe for updates by completing the online form.
“This investment is about more than managing chronic disease,” Tracy added. “It is about building healthier communities, strengthening local partnerships, and creating a sustainable framework that allows rural residents to thrive for years to come.”
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About the Michigan Health Improvement Alliance (MiHIA)
The Michigan Health Improvement Alliance (MiHIA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing equitable health and well-being by convening cross-sector partners, fostering collaboration, and implementing innovative strategies that improve health outcomes across Michigan. Through collective action and community-driven solutions, MiHIA works to address both the medical and social factors that influence health and create lasting, systemic change.