Weaving and Layering Funding: A Territorial Health Agency's Guide to Effective Health Financing

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Administration
• Health Financing

Background:

• State and territorial health agencies manage programmatic funding.
• Optimizing funding is crucial for effective public health initiatives.
• Braiding and layering are strategies for optimizing funding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the restructuring of the Non-Communicable Disease Bureau at the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation.
• To illustrate how braiding and layering of funding streams supported this restructuring.
• To share lessons learned for implementing innovative health financing mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Restructured the Non-Communicable Disease Bureau into 4 new units.
• Braided and layered existing funding streams to support the restructuring.
• Engaged in vision planning with leaders and funding partners.
• Established buy-in from agency and external partners.
• Assessed immediate impacts of the restructuring.

Main Results:

• The restructuring led to more streamlined processes and coordinated approaches.
• Braiding and layering funding fostered deeper trust among partners.
• The agency projects strengthened foundational capabilities and a more community-centered approach.
• The approach allows for more effective addressing of social determinants of health and population priorities.

Conclusions:

• Braiding and layering funding can optimize programmatic funding for health agencies.
• Successful implementation requires ample time for policy development and ongoing support for teams.
• This innovative funding mechanism can improve public health outcomes through a client-centered approach.