Pathways Community HUB Institute® Receives $1.65M Grant from Buckeye Health Plan and Centene Foundation to Create Model Resource Center

The Pathways Community HUB Institute® (PCHI® ), a national leader in advancing community-based care coordination, announced it has received a $1.65 million grant over three years to create the PCHI Model Resource Center to address drivers of health. The grant includes $1.5 million from the Centene Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation (NYSE:CNC), and $150,000 from Buckeye Health Plan, Centene’s Ohio-based health plan, which will serve as the key partner in bringing this initiative to life in Ohio in 2026.

The Resource Center will provide on-demand education, training, and tools to strengthen the

Pathways Community HUB (PCH) workforce. Building on Ohio’s experience with the PCHI

Model — implemented in 12 communities and now serving 80% of Ohio counties through PCHs — the Resource Center will help new and existing PCH staff and community health workers access training, policies, templates, and live coaching, while ensuring consistency and quality across the growing national network. It will also provide strategies and educational materials to strengthen use of the PCHI Model in improving health outcomes across the spectrum — from healthy births to chronic disease prevention and management. The Resource Center is scheduled to launch in 2026, with full implementation by 2027.

“Community health workers are the backbone of the PCHI Model. This combined $1.65 million investment will help us build a virtual Resource Center that equips PCHs and CHWs with consistent training, tools, and coaching,” said Dr. Sarah Redding, PCHI Founder & CEO. “Thanks to the support from the Centene Foundation and Buckeye Health Plan, we can now scale what works, streamline onboarding, and improve measurable outcomes—so more individuals and families get the right support and care at the right time.”

The first phase of the project will include an environmental scan of Ohio PCHs, health plans,

providers, and stakeholders to identify educational and workforce needs. Subject matter experts will then develop and refine training materials, policies, and strategic content. A technology platform will also be selected to ensure user-friendly access, including features that expand reach by offering materials in multiple languages.

“For many years, Buckeye Health Plan has partnered with the Pathways Community HUBs to

provide life-changing support for our members around the state. Buckeye and the Centene

Foundation are pleased to grow our partnership with the Pathways Community HUB Institute

and impact even more Ohioans. This funding will help to further Ohio's PCHI Certified Pathways Community HUBs to remove barriers to accessing care and services and connect individuals with community-based programs and services that can improve their health and quality of life,” said Buckeye CEO Justin Loudon.

The project will be evaluated through PCHI’s National Quality Benchmark Report (QBR), which measures outcomes such as enrollment, pregnancy outcomes, risk reduction, and referral effectiveness. PCHI will track utilization of the Resource Center and improvements achieved by Pathways Community HUBs.

“As the founder of PCHI, I know how critical it is to give Pathways Community HUBs and CHWs the resources they need to succeed. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to addressing all drivers of health and will result in a Resource Center to strengthen the workforce, ensure consistency in training, and improve care coordination and health outcomes in communities across the country,” Dr. Redding said.

About Pathways Community HUB Institute®

The Pathways Community HUB Institute (PCHI), a national organization based in Ohio, helps

communities implement the PCHI Model to build sustainable care coordination networks that

support residents by connecting them to services, tracking outcomes, and contracting with

payers that tie payment to those outcomes. Today, certified Pathways Community HUBs

operate in nearly half of all states across the country. Learn more at www.pchi-hub.org.

About Buckeye Health Plan

Buckeye Health Plan offers managed healthcare for Ohioans on Medicaid, Medicare, integrated Medicaid-Medicare (called MyCare Ohio) and the Health Insurance Exchange. Since 2004, Buckeye Health Plan has been dedicated to improving the health of Ohioans, many with low incomes, by providing coordinated healthcare and other essential support that individuals and families need to grow and thrive. Buckeye Health Plan is a Centene Corporation company. For more information, visit www.buckeyehealthplan.com.

About Centene Foundation

The Centene Foundation (the "Foundation"), a private nonprofit focused on investing in

economically challenged communities, is the philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation

(NYSE: CNC) ("Centene"). The Foundation supports projects and initiatives strategically

aligned with Centene's mission-driven culture and enhances the work Centene is doing to

remove the barriers to wellness underserved and low-income populations face. The

Foundation is committed to addressing drivers of health and improving health equity in three

distinct areas of focus: healthcare, social services and education. To learn more, visit the

Foundation's website.