Amerigroup Provides Scholarships to fortify Behavioral and Dental Health Aide workforce

-Amerigroup Washington, one of the state’s coordinators of Medicaid managed healthcare benefits, presented two $100,000 checks to the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB), during its 2023 Community Health Aide Program (CHAP) Symposium in Spokane. The funds will equally go toward supporting and expanding NPAIHB’s Behavioral Health Aide Program and its Dental Health Aide Program by creating scholarships for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) people to become Behavioral Health Aides (BHAs) and Dental Health Aides (DHAs) who will serve within their Tribal communities. Through these programs, BHAs and DHAs will increase access to high quality, culturally appropriate healthcare that reduces Tribal health disparities and allows Tribal communities to thrive in a way intended by their ancestors.

“Amerigroup is a recognized leader in funding and innovating solutions that promote health equity by meeting the unique needs of diverse populations,” said Anthony E. Woods, President of Amerigroup Washington. “We have been working with Tribal partners to increase access to culturally responsive healthcare for many years now, and we have seen the positive impacts of Community Health Aide Programs. The services provided by BHAs and DHAS, through these programs, have the power to transform lives, so we are proud to continue and step-up our supports, which ensure access to critically needed care in our AI/AN communities.”

Amerigroup was the first health plan in Washington to create value-added services that honor traditional healing benefits for its AI/AN members. It employs a dedicated Tribal liaison, who communicates with and supports Tribal organizations. Amerigroup is also the first Medicaid managed care organization in Washington to earn a Multicultural Health Care Distinction from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). This distinction recognizes Amerigroup for excelling in efforts that address the unique needs of racially, ethnically, linguistically and culturally diverse populations.