The IHA Today
At the time of the NYSID decision, IHA membership had risen to 1000. The number of members has now stabilized at about 700 people. Consistent with IHA's bylaws, members elect the Board of Directors from among the membership, and the members, by way of member committees and along with the Board, jointly govern the IHA through shared and ongoing input.
In the beginning, members were active in IHA matters, wanting input into decisions and consistently willing to spend long hours at organizational meetings to hammer out policy and set IHA's direction. Today, however, members expect the Board of Directors to take responsibility for the organization. For example, the Board oversees the staff, operational details of all its programs, and every leadership-level decision within IHA.
Since the NYSID decision, IHA program development has exceeded local expectations. To date, the Fund program has awarded more than $200,000 in grants. IHA members can apply for grants of up to $3,000 to $4,500 per year for specific healthcare needs. Most frequently requested grants are for dental care, whereas the biggest grant categories are dedicated to emergency services. The IHA seeks to expand grant categories annually, based on the needs expressed by members and the resources of the organization. In addition to the services available through grants, a revolving loan fund provides interest-free help to members for dental and eye care.
Read more about this topic: Ithaca Health Alliance