HENRICO, VA (May 13, 2026) – Virginia Community Healthcare Association (VCHA) is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with ERA Group, a global leader in cost management consultancy, to support VCHA member health centers in identifying efficiencies, optimizing non-clinical spend and strengthening financial sustainability. Engagement with ERA Group is optional and driven by the individual needs and priorities of each health center.
Through this partnership, VCHA members will have preferred access to ERA Group’s comprehensive cost optimization services, including in-depth spend analysis, supplier negotiations, competitive tendering, invoice audits and ongoing performance monitoring across a wide range of expense categories. ERA Group’s approach allows health centers to identify savings opportunities that can be reinvested into patient care, workforce support and operational sustainability.
“By adding ERA Group to our GPO portfolio, VCHA continues to expand the resources available to our member health centers, offering access to specialized expertise that supports efficiency, resilience and long-term success in Virginia’s challenging healthcare environment,” said Tracy Douglas, VCHA Chief Executive Officer.
ERA Group has more than 30 years of experience helping organizations across the public and private sectors reduce operating expenses and improve financial performance, combining local market insight with global benchmarking to deliver sustainable savings, often without requiring organizations to switch vendors or disrupt existing operations.
“Our mission is to help organizations unlock hidden value in their day-to-day spending,” said Tom Ihrke, ERA Group’s Consulting Partner. “Community health centers do critical work under tight financial constraints, and we’re proud to partner with VCHA to provide data-driven insights and practical solutions that free up resources for patient care, workforce investment, and long-term stability.”
Health centers interested in learning more about ERA Group and available services are encouraged to connect directly with ERA Group at tihrke@eragroup.com, with VCHA available to support coordination and introductions.
About Virginia Community Healthcare Association
Virginia Community Healthcare Association (VCHA), established in 1980, is a non-profit membership organization that serves as the primary care association for Virginia’s community health centers and look-alike health centers. VCHA’s mission is to advocate on behalf of, educate and elevate our member health centers by enhancing their ability to provide affordable, accessible, quality healthcare to the communities they serve regardless of their ability to pay. For more information, visit www.vcha.org.
