Determination of Need
BACH’s primary source of funding comes through Massachusetts’ “Determination of Need” (DoN) process. When a health care institution intends to build a new facility or make a major capital purchase, it is required to file a DoN application with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH). If the application is approved, the applicant facility then provides the equivalent of 5% of the capital outlay to support community health and prevention needs.
Once this amount is set, a planning group, which includes the MDPH, the applicant Boston-based hospital, BACH and other local partners, work together to determine the best use of the funds based on priorities identified through a community assessment process. Thus, the DoN is intended to foster collaborations between hospitals and community-based partners as well as improve the health status of vulnerable populations.
Uses for DoN Funding
Funding decisions are guided by the MDPH priorities to provide health-related services to vulnerable populations, inclusive of at least one of these goals:
- Eliminating racial and ethnic health disparities and their social determinants
- Promoting wellness in the home, workplace, school, and community
- Preventing and managing chronic disease
Funded programming or projects may include:
- Community-based outreach, health education, screening, and treatment services
- Environmental strategies to promote health, reduce risks, and prevent injury and chronic disease
- Policy development and advocacy
- Community-based organizing
- Coalition building and maintenance
- Leadership training
- Workforce development
- Other population-based, community-level, or system change strategies
BACH is fortunate to have developed good working relationships with the city’s hospitals and is grateful to the following for their consistent and continuing support of BACH’s work:
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Boston Medical Center
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- Children’s Hospital Boston
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- New England Baptist Hospital
- St. Elizabeth’s Hospital
- Tufts Medical Center
Determination of Need Process »
Determination of Need Factor 9 »
Additional Funding
Boston Public Health Commission funding for Let’s Get Healthy, Boston!
Let’s Get Healthy, Boston! is a $5.4 million, 3-year grant funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce the burden of chronic disease by addressing the health behavior risks of tobacco exposure, poor nutrition and lack of physical activity. The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) will lead the initiative, in partnership with the Boston Alliance for Community Health (BACH). Harvard Prevention Research Center (HPRC) is the evaluator.
BACH, as the primary community partner, has developed the Health Community Champions program through which we have trained 75 community residents from 9 Boston neighborhoods and 10 community-based coalitions and organizations to help implement the voluntary policy, systems, and environment change goals of the grant.
For more information on Let’s Get Healthy, Boston! »
Health Resources in Action (HRiA)
BACH has a Memorandum of Agreement with Health Resources in Action (HRiA), a nonprofit public health organization that provides BACH with a range of administrative and fiscal services. While BACH purchases these services, not all costs are fully covered and, thus, it receives in-kind contributions from HRiA as well.