Connecticut Primary Care Office PCO

Connecticut Primary Care Office (PCO)

Mission Statement:

The mission of the Connecticut Primary Care Office (PCO) is to improve the health of Connecticut residents who live in underserved areas, through timely and accurate assessment, planning, and assistance, to increase access to primary care providers of medical, dental, and mental health services. The PCO conducts in-depth research and analysis of the healthcare delivery system and the population it serves to identify trends in access and develop strategies to address deficiencies. To accomplish this, the PCO maintains strong working relationships with other agencies and programs, both public and private. The PCO also works with communities to identify areas that may meet federal guidelines for Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designations.

The PCO ensures that Connecticut is able to recruit and retain high quality health care professionals to serve as primary care providers in our urban and rural areas. Working with the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the PCO serves as the point of contact for many federal and state workforce assistance programs, designed to help attract new and experienced health professionals of various disciplines to join our healthcare provider community.

The PCO works with health care providers and communities to improve access to care for the underserved, by assisting them with the application process in order to recruit and retain providers to practice in federally designated shortage areas and expand new and existing Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).

In December 2021, the PCO completed and published a Primary Care Assessment for the state, which includes a section each on state characteristics that impact how people access primary care services, primary care priority populations, key indicators of primary care, and the overall primary care infrastructure.

Program Description:

The Connecticut Primary Care Office (PCO) is housed in the Maternal, Child Health, and Access to Care Section (HERO), under the Community, Family Health, and Prevention Branch (CFHPB). Through a cooperative agreement with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the PCO works with healthcare providers and communities to improve access to care for the underserved, by recruiting and retaining providers to practice in federally designated shortage areas.

Health Professional Shortage Areas can be established for:

1. Primary Medical Care

2. Dental

3. Mental Health

Related Links:

Primary Care Office Fact Sheet

Conrad-30 Program / J-1 Visa Waiver Program

Connecticut Loan Repayment Program

Additional Resources:

Community Health Center Association of Connecticut (CHCACT)