CNECT is dedicated to providing members with quality, proven solutions that meet evolving needs.
Our recent RFP process to identify trusted vendors that can support community health centers with credentialing and privileging requirements exemplifies our commitment to excellence.
Here’s how it worked ...
Identifying the Challenge
In 2024, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) identified credentialing and privileging as top compliance challenges for community health centers, with three related elements ranked in the top five findings from HRSA and BPHC operational site visits.
Health centers face increasing scrutiny and complexity in:
- Maintaining accurate records.
- Reviewing privileges.
- Managing contracted or referral providers.
The need for expert support was clear.
Together with our partners at NACHC, we identified the key areas that needed to be addressed and set out to find solutions.
Releasing the RFP
Our contracting team created and released a comprehensive request for proposal (RFP).
With an intimate understanding of the challenge at hand, Lori Lumpkin, Contracts Manager, and Elizabeth Bailey, Sr. Contracts Specialist, designed an RFP seeking targeted, expert support to help health centers:
- Demonstrate compliance with HRSA/BPHC requirements.
- Improve revenue cycle management.
- Enhance patient access workflows.
Selecting the Right Suppliers
Several suppliers submitted proposals.
To ensure only the most qualified suppliers were selected, we convened an expert advisory committee composed of leaders from across the health center movement, including:
- Five c-suite executives from CHCs.
- Two industry experts from NACHC.
- One leading health center expert from Health Quality Partners (HQP).
The committee guided the vendor selection process with expert insight, analyzing supplier proposals to select solutions that best aligned with the operational realities and strategic goals of health centers.
Outcome: A Crucial Resource for CHCs
After the rigorous sourcing process, CNECT negotiated discounted rates with the following suppliers:
- Compliatric
- Emerge and See
- MedTrainer
- Quality First Healthcare Consulting
Through these agreements, we’re enabling health centers to access high-quality, targeted support — helping them stay compliant, efficient, and patient-focused, while also saving money.
With support from every corner of the health center movement, we’re delivering the right solution, at the right price, at the right time.
“Our goal was to negotiate discounts on the best solutions for the operational challenges health centers face every day. By engaging experts nationwide, we sourced vendors whose solutions streamline workflows, reduce complexity, and deliver measurable improvements in both operational efficiency and financial performance.”
Lori Lumpkin, Contracts Manager