Updates on the partnership between the Center and DHHS
In 2023, the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits (the Center) welcomed Lori Weaver, Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), to a Nonprofit Capitol Exchange program. The occasion was an opportunity for the recently appointed Commissioner to meet and hear from our partners regarding the vital role the nonprofit sector plays in supporting the health and human services needs of New Hampshire residents.
From that initial meeting, DHHS and the Center established a working group of DHHS leadership and Center members to create and strengthen partnerships between the Department and nonprofit providers. The working group seeks to improve communication and transparency between the two organizations to enhance the overall value of the services DHHS and its providers deliver to New Hampshire residents.
Since then, DHHS, the Center and leaders from New Hampshire nonprofit organizations have partnered on several initiatives to work together to further our collective missions of improving the health and well-being of our residents, including:
“Doing Business with DHHS” training: In October 2023, we held an informational program and Q&A for nonprofits on doing business with DHHS, including the contracting procurement process and contract management. We are currently considering additional future sessions of this program in 2024 for both current and prospective nonprofits that partner with DHHS.
New Contract Payment System: Based on feedback from the Center and its members regarding the administrative burdens of cost-reimbursement contracts with DHHS, the Department developed a risk-based invoicing system to reduce the need for providers to submit documentation for cost-reimbursement contracts on a monthly basis. The new system is currently being piloted in select areas of the Department. Once the proof-of-concept model is tested and proven successful, DHHS will expand it Department-wide in a phased manner over the coming year.
Active Contract Management: The working group is discussing the Department’s vision for a system of active contract management that ensures work with our providers and partners is driven by a shared understanding of contract goals and outcomes, deliverables, and performance metrics. Once this vision is realized, DHHS anticipates that nonprofits that partner with DHHS will have greater clarity on goals, expectations, and outcomes throughout their engagement with the Department.
As we look forward to the year ahead, DHHS will continue to meet with the Center and our members to advance our business partnership, with the goal of continuous process improvement. We aim to increase communication and understanding of the impact of our business practices to help nonprofits effectively meet their respective missions and address the needs of New Hampshire residents. We also envision the working group as a mechanism for providers to share information about their experiences doing business with DHHS so that we can work together to address their needs. The partnership between the Center and DHHS has been an important effort that is leading to greater communication, process improvements and understanding of true costs to deliver services, and better outcomes for the people we serve.