About Us

Promoting primary health care for all Hawaii's people

Our Mission.

The mission of the Hawaii Primary Care Association is to improve the health of communities in need by advocating for, expanding access to, and sustaining high quality care through the statewide network of Community Health Centers.

Who We Are.

Established in 1989, the Hawaii Primary Care Association (HPCA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering primary health care—basic medical, dental and behavioral health, and health education services—for all Hawaii residents. HPCA is governed by a board of directors composed of one representative from each member community health center and three from Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems. HPCA has a 17-member staff which undertakes a variety of special projects focused on helping members strengthen and expand their services. HPCA receives funding from membership dues, federal and state grants, private foundations and donations from the community.

Who We Represent.

HPCA represents health organizations and providers focused on primary care for medically underserved people, such as low-income families, Native Hawaiians, immigrants, homeless individuals, and people without health insurance. Our core membership consists of nonprofit multi-service Community Health Centers and Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems founded and governed by the communities they serve. These core members see more than 82,600 patients annually on five islands.

Our Work.

We assist organizations and providers that focus on accessible and cost-effective health services to underserved individuals regardless of the individual’s ability to pay. By supporting our members, HPCA commits itself to the goal of community empowerment through health care choice. We believe in helping communities help themselves through community-based initiatives. In the following areas, HPCA:

Advocacy

• Communicates with policy makers and the public about the health care needs of the underserved and advocates for those needs.
• Acts as liaison for members with federal, state, local, and private entities that affect health care for the underserved.

Networking

• Serves as a communication network and forum for members to exchange information, solve problems, and share successes.
• Supports networking among clinical, program, and administrative staff at health centers/systems to increase skills and build job satisfaction.

Training and Technical Assistance

• Provides or links members to training and technical assistance.
  Supports training and workforce development to ensure staffing excellence at health centers.
• Offers a Community Health Worker certificate program.

Health Center Planning and Development

• Collects and disseminates data about Hawaii’s health care environment for planning, grantwriting, and advocacy purposes.
• Fosters and supports development of new community-based health services in underserved communities.

Telehealth and Health Information Technology

• Supports the advancement of telehealth and health information technology among members through networking, technical assistance, and technology planning.

Community Outreach and Enrollment Assistance

• Increases enrollment of low-income people in public insurance programs by subcontracting state funds to health centers for outreach and through the Hawaii Covering Kids program which has fostered significant application and enrollment reforms within the state Medicaid program.

Access

• Collects and distributes free medications and related supplies to community health centers (throught the Medicine Bank).
• Administers the state-funded Immigrant Health Initiative to ensure access to primary care for low income immigrants not eligible for Medicaid coverage.
• Coordinates collaborative improvements in chronic disease management at health centers.

Funding and Resources