For nearly 30 years, Community Health Plan of Washington (CHPW) has been providing health care to Washington families. As Washington’s first not-for-profit to serve Apple Health members, their mission is to support individuals in making the best health care decisions for themselves and their families. Today they offer Apple Health (Medicaid) and Medicare Advantage plans in the Whatcom area.
CHPW’s background and focus
In 1992, Washington’s community and migrant health centers (CHCs), created Community Health Plan of Washington to provide health insurance to people who were not being served by traditional insurance companies. They remain governed by community organizations (Community Health Centers) which, in turn, are governed by community members. Their work is motivated by the best interests of their members, providers and communities. They promote managed care as a way to control costs. CHPW works hand-in-hand with local community resources and community organizations to support all aspects of their members’ lives. For them, health care means putting together a whole team to support their members with their whole health at every stage of their health journey and working to remove the barriers that stand between them and their best health.
The CHPW network includes:
- 21 Community Health Centers operating more than 140 clinics
- More than 2,700 primary care providers
- More than 14,900 medical specialists
- More than 7,500 behavioral health specialists
- More than 100 hospitals
Giving back to their communities
In the last two years, CHPW has provided funding to community-based organizations on the front lines of pandemic response, while also providing funding to CHCs like ours across the state to support initiatives addressing health disparities. As a further part of CHPW’s commitment to Washington’s communities, every full-time CHPW employee has 40 hours of paid volunteer time that they use to serve meals at local food banks, work on Washington’s hiking trails, and clean up public spaces.
CHPW is a longtime supporter of Unity Care NW. They have partnered with us on several health care expansions, including our recent North Whatcom Health Center project. And they are participants in our Health Care Champions Sponsorship Program.
Just like Unity Care NW, Community Health Plan of Washington believes in the power of community. Because they know when we stand together, we stand stronger. Thank you, CHPW, for all that you do to ensure health care access for all and for supporting our work in so many ways.