Puyallup Tribal Health Authority and Elevate Health announce service agreement

Puyallup Tribal Health Authority (PTHA) and Elevate Health recently entered into a two-year service agreement that will support access to quality health and wellness care for American Indian and Alaska Native residents of Pierce County. In particular, the partnership will focus on community-based care coordination delivered by community-based workers.

“The Puyallup Tribal Health Authority and Elevate Health share a commitment to developing and sustaining local health services that are community-based, inclusive, and culturally appropriate,” said PTHA Executive Director David Tonemah. “This is a mission-aligned collaboration that will have a substantial impact in Pierce County.”

Elevate Health will provide funding and resources to community-based workers who work within PTHA’s medical and behavioral health departments. In turn, PTHA will partner with Elevate Health’s Community Care Hub by continuing to provide community-based care coordination services, accepting hub referrals for patients who would be well served by PTHA, and participating in select trainings and a community-based worker forum sponsored by Elevate Health. 

“Community-based workers are advocates, navigators, and care managers for patients, families and caregivers throughout Pierce County,” said Elevate Health Executive Director Gena Morgan. “Our Elevate Health team is looking forward to supporting the dynamic team of PTHA community-based workers serving our local American Indian and Alaskan Native communities.”

PTHA, an organization of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, is a multispecialty clinic that provides a wide variety of quality health care to more than 12,500 patients from over 300 tribal groups each year. The organization employs over 275 dedicated health and administrative professionals, including community-based workers who serve across the organization, helping patients navigate PTHA services, as well as external community, public, and private health and social service sectors. 

A nonprofit collaborative and Pierce County’s accountable community of health, Elevate Health partners with organizations across Pierce County to increase equitable access to health and social care. PTHA is one of 14 organizations currently partnered with Elevate Health’s Community Care Hub to support the vital work of community-based workers and improve local health and wellness outcomes through community-based care coordination.