Sabina Palmieri

Community Health Network of Connecticut, Inc.

In 1995, a group of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) came together to form Community Health Network of Connecticut, Inc.® (CHNCT), a not-for-profit managed care organization dedicated to improving medical services and health outcomes for Connecticut's Medicaid-eligible residents. They had a clear vision, to create a model that would bring managed care to underserved populations in the same way that federally qualified health centers bring them medical services. Over the organization's first 17 years, CHNCT transformed from a small group's dream into a premier health plan, recognized on both local and national levels. The leadership and staff of CHNCT had a passion to serve Connecticut's population, unmatched by any organization. During this time, CHNCT grew from an underdog company into the largest managed care organization in the state, serving over 300,000 members. From the beginning, people have been at the core of the work that CHNCT does. Person-centeredness is the guiding principle that we follow when working with members and healthcare providers. It is a way of thinking and doing things that sees the whole person. It is an approach that brings the person into the planning, developing, and monitoring of care to ensure that it meets the person's needs. After announcing it would move to an innovative self-insured administrative services organization (ASO) model, in 2012 the Department of Social Services selected CHNCT as the sole medical ASO. CHNCT has helped the state to improve health outcomes for members, reduce costs for both the State of Connecticut and healthcare providers, and improve transparency and accountability. Under the ASO model, CHNCT proudly serves over 800,000 members.