MPCA News

Community Health Centers Are Key

So vital are community health centers in meeting the health care needs of communities across the country that President Bush has pledged to put “a health center in every poor county in America.”  Indeed, the president’s Health Center Initiative calls for doubling the size of the health center program with 1,200 new and expanded sites that will serve 16 million patients by next year.

Montana current has 11 Community Health Centers (CHCs) serving 18 communities.  In addition, the Migrant Health Center program provides care in 9 communities across the state and the Health Care for the Homeless Program has sites in Billings, Butte, Helena, and Missoula.  In 2005, 76,520 patients called Community Health Centers their medical home.  Community Health Centers are located in Ashland, Billings, Butte, Chinook, Cut Bank, Great Falls, Helena, Libby, Livingston, Miles City, and Missoula with satellite sites in Bozeman, Dillon, Eureka, Harlem, Sheridan, Troy, and West Yellowstone.  These Centers provide primary and preventive health care regardless of patients’ ability to pay.  Patients are charged on a sliding fee scale to ensure that income or lack of insurance are not barriers to receiving care.

August 6-12th was National Health Center Week which focused on highlighting the community-based model of health care that is opening the doors of health and giving millions of Americans in need the change for health and productive lives.    The health center approach is meant to lower the costs of disease through accessible and affordable primary care and prevention.  The National Association of Community Health Centers estimates that health centers save American taxpayers $7 billion per year by keeping people healthy and out of hospitals and costly emergency rooms.

Nationwide, health centers fill critical gaps in health care by serving the working poor, the uninsured, the medically underserved, and many high-risk and vulnerable populations.  Health centers are the family doctor to one of every four Montanans at or below 100% federal poverty level, and one in every 5 uninsured Montanans who otherwise would lack access to health care. In 2004, 81% of Montanan CHC patients had incomes under 200%of poverty and 55% were uninsured. 

The number of Americans without health insurance increased by 1.3 million in 2005 to 46.6 million or 15.9% of the U.S. population.  While the number of health center patients has grown by 19% since 2000, the number of uninsured patients has more than doubled.

Health Centers provide a wide range of services to their patients including primary and preventive care services, chronic disease management, dental and mental health services, and pharmaceutical services.  The Institute of Medicine and General Accountability Office have recognized CHCs for their quality of care and effectiveness in managing chronic diseases.   Key to health centers’ accomplishments is patient involvement in service delivery.  Health centers are local, non-profit, community-owned providers that have governing boards—the majority of which must be patients according to federal grant requirements—that serve as community representatives and make decisions on services provided.   

For nearly 40 years, the national network of health centers has provided high quality, affordable primary care and preventive services to many Americans who would otherwise go without medical care.  To find out more, call the Montana Primary Care Association at 406-442-2750. 

Article contributed by Julie Burk, Development and Public Information Specialist at Lewis & Clark City-County Health Department