Who We Are

At the Chanda Center for Health, we believe that people living with long-term physical disabilities have the right to create their own healthcare path, live independently, and be active members in community. Many individuals living with long-term physical disabilities experience chronic pain and discomfort, which can lead to feelings of isolation, overuse of medications and depression.

We deliver services and positive health outcomes through an integrative healthcare model including acupuncture, massage, chiropractic care, adaptive yoga, physical therapy, counseling, behavioral health and care coordination. Through our partnerships we also provide our participants with access to primary care and dental care services. Our providers work in a collaborative environment with one goal – to improve the health and wellness of people living with long-term physical disabilities.

CCH
History
Systemic
Change
Who We Serve Program
Outcomes

History

As a nonprofit organization, the Chanda Plan Foundation offered integrative therapies at little to no cost to participants beginning in 2005. It began as a small-scale program providing access to receive integrative therapy only at provider locations. After extensive discussions with participants and collaborations with stakeholders, the Chanda Center for Health was founded in April 2017 to meet the needs of the population it serves. The Center became the one-stop-shop for individuals to access a wide range of services provided by disability competent healthcare professionals and designed to improve health outcomes and lower healthcare costs with disability competent care as the guiding principle.

The primary goal of the Chanda Center for Health is to give persons with long-term physical disabilities the services they need to improve their overall health and participation in life. We help our participants heal their whole bodies, with an emphasis on proactive and preventive healthcare.

Long-term, the Chanda Center for Health seeks changes in policy, systems and services while it advances successful, evidence-based working models and innovative pilot programs aimed at better serving its participant population.

Systemic Change

Accessing integrative therapies for those with long-term physical disabilities begins with Medicaid reform. With the support of a volunteer lobbyist and policy makers, the Chanda Plan Foundation worked to change Colorado state legislation in 2009, and Medicaid instituted a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) waiver to provide massage, acupuncture and chiropractic services to eligible participants. Over the last 10 years (2009-2019), the waiver evaluated the impact of these services and the consequential cost savings for those enrolled.

The most recent evaluation of the waiver validates what we witnessed through our direct services – better health outcomes at lower costs. Colorado Medicaid choosing to cover integrative therapies is serving as a national model. Click here to view this evaluation.

With the same level of support, the Chanda Center for Health continues to advocate for the demographic and geographic expansion of the SCI waiver through Bill SB21-038.

Who We Serve

Our doors are open to everyone; however, we specialize in serving people with Spinal Cord Injuries, Brain Injuries, Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis and Spina Bifida.

Program Outcomes

Integrative therapies have generated positive outcomes for Chanda Center for Health participants and cost less than the average visit to the doctor. While receiving therapy, many participants lower their cost to Medicaid by reducing their prescription drug dependency and emergent hospital visits. Please take a moment to review such impacts addressed in our surveys below. For further impact, please CLICK HERE to see our systemic change work.

The 2019 Complementary and Integrative Health Services Evaluation validates what we’ve witnessed through our direct services, better health outcomes at lower costs. If Colorado Medicaid chooses to cover integrative therapies the legislation can be modeled for adaptation on a national level. CLICK HERE to view.

Participant Health and Life Surveys