Our Work in Action


Promising Practices 2

NCI Awards Promising Practice Funds to Seven North Country Organizations Projects Address Unmet Healthcare Needs in Tri-County Region Seven organizations in the region were recently awarded grant funding to implement promising strategies to fill physical, social, and behavioral healthcare needs in the community. This is the second year that North Country Initiative (NCI) has strategically invested in these priority areas; […]


Promising Practices

NCI Awards Promising Practice Funds to Five North Country Organizations Funding for Projects to Address Unmet Healthcare Needs in Tri-County Region Watertown, NY, June 28, 2021 —– Five organizations in the region were recently awarded grant funding to implement promising strategies to fill physical, social, and behavioral healthcare needs in the community. North Country Initiative (NCI) utilized $175,000 in remaining […]


Post 2: Partner-Level Benchmarks

Post #2: Partner-Level Benchmarks The benchmark process isn’t for the faint of heart. It is nearly impossible to predict a benchmark for a new ACO and unfortunately, the benchmark dramatically sets the stage for success. For existing ACOs however, what CMS provides in terms of historical data can prove to be extremely valuable not only in guiding your ACO to […]


our team

Post 1: “Let’s Keep Them in Our ACO”

Post #1: Let’s Keep Them in Our ACO For our first post, we’re going to take a very simple idea and boil it down to actual numbers. A lot of people can talk about churn rates, but seldom do they communicate the actual impact, and quite frankly, I’ve heard very little about keeping those beneficiaries who are about to be […]


mTCM Pilot Program

INNOVATIVE PILOT PROGRAM INTRODUCED TO SUPPORT MEDICAID PATIENTS DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL CARE Intensive Follow-up Services Address Patients’ Clinical & Social Needs Watertown, New York, March 23, 2021– Heading home after a stay in the hospital or emergency department can cause a patient to feel anxious, isolated, and uncertain. Patients may not feel confident about which medications to take, which providers […]


Lowville Medical Associates Receive NYS PCMH 2017 Annual Recognition

On November 13, 2019, Lowville Medical Associates received recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a NYS Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) practice at the 2017 standard, the most recent standard available. This recognition is given to practices in NYS that meet a rigorous set of qualifications within six concept areas: Team-Based Care and Practice Organization Knowing and […]


NCI Presents at Public Comment Forum for Continuation of DSRIP

On Wednesday, October 30th, FDRHPO/NCI Director Erika Flint and Director of Provider Strategy Joanna Loomis traveled to Syracuse to participate in the Public Comment Forum, representing our PPS. This forum was held to offer an opportunity for Central New York PPSs, their partners and beneficiaries, to advocate for the continuation of the Medicaid Section 1115 Waiver, better known as DSRIP, […]


Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center Primary Care Clinics Receive NYS PCMH 2017 Annual Recognition

On October 15, 2019, Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center primary care clinics received recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a NYS Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) practice at the 2017 standard, the most recent standard available. This recognition is given to practices in NYS that meet a rigorous set of qualifications within six concept areas: Team-Based Care and Practice […]


Independent Evaluation: North Country Patients Have Benefited From DSRIP Program

UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY EVALUATES NORTH COUNTRY INITIATIVE-LED EFFORTS, FINDS POSITIVE RESULTS WATERTOWN – A recent independent evaluation of statewide health care reform validates work being done locally by the North Country Initiative. The survey, conducted by the University at Albany’s Center for Human Services Research, assessed the performance of the North Country Initiative in the first three years of New York’s Delivery System […]

independent evaluation

care manager

Care Manager of the Month: Netty Diaz

Every month, NCI profiles a local care manager to help the community learn more about the valuable role they play in our region’s healthcare system. The “Care Manager of the Month” for November 2017 is Netty Diaz! Netty has worked for St. Lawrence County Community Services as a Case Manager for the past eleven years. To get to know her better, we […]