Accountable Communities of Health (ACHs)

What's an ACH?

ACHs are independent, regional organizations. They work with their communities on specific health care and social needs-related projects and activities. This work seeks to improve the health of people in Washington State. ACHs play an integral role in Washington’s Medicaid Transformation Project (MTP) efforts. Although MTP is Medicaid-focused, ACHs are working in many ways to improve the health of their communities as a whole.

Read the ACH report to the Legislature. 

Visit each ACH page to learn more:

• Better Health Together
• Cascade Pacific Action Alliance
• Elevate Health
• Greater Health Now
• HealthierHere
• North Sound ACH
• Olympic Community of Health
• SWACH
• Thriving Together NCW

Where did ACHs come from?

ACHs were designed to be a neutral convener, coordinating body, investor, and connection point between the health care delivery system and local communities. The State Health Care Innovation Plan shares the initial concept of ACHs. The ACH network was formally created in 2015, with funding through the State Innovation Models Round 2 test grant and supportive state legislation in the 2014 session.

What are the goals of the ACHs?

ACHs promote health equity and address and coordinate around social determinants of health. They also respond to regional needs and issues, including COVID-19 response and coordination. ACHs, in partnership with health care providers, local health jurisdictions, community-based organizations, and many others, are working to:

• Align resources and activities that improve whole-person health and wellness by bringing people and organizations together across sectors for discussion, training, and strategic planning.
• Support efforts that improve the Medicaid health care delivery system, such as workforce development and value-based purchasing.
• Support the integration of physical and behavioral health care, known as managed care.
• Connect people to care and help coordinate care between providers and organizations.
• Address the opioid use public health crisis.
• Invest in community infrastructure, like electronic health records.

There are nine ACHs covering the state, each serving a specific region. Although each ACH is unique, they share a common approach to improving the health of their communities and changing health care delivery.

What are ACHs working on?

Through MTP, all ACHs are working on projects and activities based on their community’s health needs and priorities.

• View the latest ACH activities report. 
• Read about the specific project and implementation plans for each ACH.
• Learn how ACHs and others receive incentives for their work.
• Learn more about ACHs, including their response efforts for the COVID-19 pandemic, by visiting the ACH website.

ACH quarterly activity reports

In early 2020, we created the ACH quarterly activity report for the Washington State Legislature. This report shares what ACHs are doing within and across regions to improve the health of people and communities in our state. View all past ACH quarterly activity reports on our Reports page. 

ACH evaluation reports

As part of MTP, ACHs are evaluated for their effectiveness in improving health and transforming care delivery for the people who live within their region. View all evaluation reports on our Reports page.