Federally-Funded Health Centers

"Around the country, more than 3,000 Community Health Centers are fighting these problems - by giving immunizations, providing prenatal care, and treating illnesses before they become emergencies. I strongly support these Community Health Centers because they are compassionate, they are cost-effective, and America needs more of them. And so I've set this goal: we need 1,200 more Community Health Centers over the next five years to make sure government fulfills its commitment to the need." - President George W. Bush, 2/11/02, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

America's Health Centers are private, not-for-profit, consumer-directed health care corporations which provide high quality, cost-effective and comprehensive primary and preventive care to medically underserved and uninsured people.

The nationwide network of safety net providers is primarily comprised of health centers which are supported by federal grants under the U.S. Public Health Service Act:

• Community Health Centers (CHCs)
• Migrant Health Centers
• Health Care for the Homeless Programs
• Public Housing Primary Care Programs

These community-based providers are also commonly referred to as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) because they meet rigorous federal standards related to quality of care and services, as well as cost, and they are qualified to receive cost-based reimbursement under Medicaid and Medicare law.

Since 1965, Health Centers have delivered comprehensive health and social support services to people who otherwise would face major financial, social, cultural and language barriers to obtaining quality, affordable health care.

There are more than 1029 community-based health centers in operation today. Collectively, these centers serve as a health care safety net for more than 11 million patients (4.4 million of whom are uninsured) through 3,200 delivery sites in urban and rural underserved communities in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands.

Health Centers provide access to health care for millions of people who have been locked out of the "traditional" health care system.

Poverty, homelessness, poor living conditions, geographical isolation, lack of doctors and lack of health insurance pose insurmountable access problems for many people at higher risk for serious and costly health conditions, including asthma, tuberculosis, diabetes and high-risk pregnancies. Health centers address these access problems through the delivery of comprehensive primary and preventive services - the type of services not typically offered by traditional private sector providers to at-risk people, including most managed care systems. And health centers do it cost-effectively.

Health Centers are community-based and governed by consumer boards which ensures accountability to their local communities and taxpayers.

At least 51 percent of the health center board must be comprised of patients who utilize the health center's services. Such boards also include local business, civic and community leaders and others who bring specific expertise and experience. More than 20,000 volunteers serve on health center boards today. Such boards eliminate the "one-size-fit-all" mentality because they ensure that health center services are tailored to the unique needs of the community.

Health Centers serve those who are hardest to reach.

They are located in America's inner cities, isolated rural areas, and migrant farmworker communities - areas with few or no physicians and other health and social services.

Health Centers revenues are multi-sourced.

Health center services are supported by federal grants (administered by the Bureau of Primary Health Care, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services), Medicaid and Medicare payments, state and local government grants/contracts, private insurance payments, patient fees, foundation grants and private donations.

Health Centers provide access to health care for people who might not otherwise be able to afford it.

Health Center services are not free. However, to ensure that income or lack of insurance is not a barrier to care, patients who are not covered by public or private insurance are charged on a sliding fee scale according to income.

Health Centers focus on wellness and early prevention - the keys to cost savings in health care.

Through innovative programs in outreach, education and prevention, health centers reach out and energize communities to meet urgent health needs and promote greater personal responsibility for good health.

Health Centers foster growth and development in their communities.

Over $14 billion in annual economic activity is generated by health centers in many of America's most economically depressed communities and they employ over 50,000 people and train thousands of health professionals and volunteers.

Health Centers provide more than just treatment for illness or episodic conditions. They offer comprehensive "one-stop" services and a "health care home" for patients in their communities.

Like all good family doctors, health centers provide ongoing care and health management for families and individuals throughout their lives. Health centers are staffed by more than 6,000 physicians, together with thousands of nurses, dentists, other health professionals and volunteer staff.

Health center services generally include primary care visits; health education; disease screening and control; case management; laboratory services; dental care; pharmacy services; substance abuse counseling; and social services. Many offer evening and weekend hours for working families, provide care at multiple sites, use mobile clinics to reach rural and other hard-to-reach populations, and employ multi-lingual staffs. All health centers have a 24-hour system for after-hours calls and emergencies.

For less than 1 dollar per day for each person served (less than $350 annually), health centers provide quality primary and preventive care to low-income, uninsured and underinsured individuals and families. Many studies have shown that health centers are less expensive than HMOs and private physicians. Through reductions in hospital admissions and less frequent use of costly emergency room visits for routine services, health centers save the American health care system almost billions each year.

To effectively serve the unique needs of their patients and improve their overall health, most health centers provide health education, community outreach, transportation, and support programs, in a linguistically and culturally appropriate setting.

Health Centers fill critical gaps in health care.

Health centers serve low-income working families, the uninsured, and other high-risk populations such as the homeless, the frail elderly, migrant farmworkers, isolated rural families and poor women and children. They serve people who face barriers to care and whose unmet health needs represent a huge and growing cost to the nation.

Today, America's Health Centers are the family doctor and health care home for over 10 million people, including:

• One of every 6 low-income children (4.5 million)
• One of every 5 low-income births (400,000)
• One of every 10 uninsured persons (4.4 million)
• One of every 8 Medicaid recipients (3.5 million)
• Seven million people of color
• One of every 12 rural residents (5.4 million)
• One of every 4 homeless persons (500,000)