Community Health Centers

1. Community Health Centers Catherine Goodwyn April 30, 2013

2. What are Community Health Centers • CHCs are essentially safety nets for the uninsured and underinsured. These centers are located in high needs areas and provide affordable comprehensive primary care and preventive care services to patients.

3. History of CHCs • LBJ’s War on Poverty • Office of Economic Opportunity. • Dr. Jack Geiger, physician activist

4. Community Involvement • Every Federally Qualified Health Care Center (FQHC) is governed by a community board with a patient majority; essential a patient democracy. This is unique to America’s health system because patients do not just pay for their health care, they also “have a say” in how their health care is delivered through patient representatives on the board. This patient majority governing board is among the five core statutory requirements that every health center must meet in order to receive federal funds.

5. CHCs Requirements According to Health Center Program of the Public Service Act Section 330, a health care organization must meet requirements and follow accountability and governance requirements in order to be eligible to apply for FQHC status. Minimum set of requirements and standards… • Location in a federally designated medically underserved area; • Have nonprofit, public, or tax exempt status; • Provide comprehensive primary health care services, referrals and other services needed to; • facilitate access to care, such as case management, translation, and transportation; • Provide services to all in their service area, regardless of ability to pay, and many offer services to undocumented immigrants; and • schedule that adjusts charges for care according to family income.

6. How CHCs Make a Difference • Governance Boards • Improve access to Primary and Preventive Care • Effective Management of Chronic Illness • Reduction of Health Disparities • Cost‐Effective Care • High Quality of Care • Create Jobs and Stimulate Economic Growth

7. Addressing Health Disparities • CHCs play a vital role in addressing health disparities • Studies have found that the quality of care provided at health centers is equal to or greater than the quality of care provided elsewhere • Implement plans to decrease barriers in accessing care and implement outreaches

8. The Future of CHCs • Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME)provides funding for residency training to flow directly to CHCs. This initiative is funded under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. • The program’s mission is to prepare competent professionals while addressing CHCs need for more primary health clinicians.

9. Resources • "The CommunityHealth Center Movement." . Web. 30 April. 2013. <http://www.ravenswoodfhc.org/images/pdf/History-of-community-Health-Center-Movement.pdf>. • Reynolds, P. Preston.. "Commentary: The Teaching Community Health Center: An Idea Whose Time Has Come." Academic Medicine. 87.12 (2012): 1648–1650. • Taylor, Jessamy. "The Fundamentals of Community Health Centers." National Health Policy Forum. (2004):. Web. 30 April. 2013. <http://www.nhpf.org/library/background-papers/BP_CHC_08-31-04.pdf>. • Wilson, Roger. "COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS. "Optometric Care within the Public Health Community. (2009): . Web. 30 April. 2013. <http://webpages.charter.net/oldpostpublishing/oldpostpublishing/Section 3, Governmental Role in Health Care/Sect 3, Community Health Centers by Wilson.pdf>.