Celebrating National Health Center Week: Honoring the Heartbeat of Community Health
Every August, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) sponsors National Health Center Week — seven days of raising awareness about the vital role of more than 1,400 community health centers across the United States. This year’s theme, “Celebrating 60 Years of Progress,” honors six decades of community health centers improving access, equity and health outcomes for millions of Americans.
Community health centers (CHCs) are not just providers; they are anchors in the communities they serve and are a critical part of our nation’s healthcare system. But despite their impact, they are now facing considerable challenges.
Let’s take a closer look at why CHCs are so essential — nationally and right here in Ohio —and what’s at stake as they confront a rapidly changing policy and funding landscape.
How Does a Community Health Center Impact a Community?
Community health centers, which include federally qualified health centers, are nonprofit, community-directed organizations that deliver primary care services, often to individuals living in medically underserved areas that face barriers such as poverty, lack of insurance or geographic isolation.
Nationally, CHCs serve more than 32.5 million patients in nearly 16,000 locations across the country, offering accessible, high-quality, comprehensive care regardless of income, insurance status, or ability to pay. In Ohio alone, 60 community health centers operate nearly 600 sites across 76 counties, reaching more than 1 million Ohioans each year.
According to the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers, 89% of CHC patients live at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and 37% of Ohio’s CHC sites are located in rural communities. The impact of CHCs is felt across every age and population group, including:
· More than 262,000 children.
· More than 105,000 adults ages 65+.
· Nearly 13,000 veterans.
CHCs provide care that is affordable and tailored to the needs of the community. This model, and their commitment to health equity, is what makes CHCs valuable to so many. CHCs offer a wide range of services, including:
· Primary care
· Behavioral health
· Pharmacy services
· Dental services
· Prenatal and maternal health
· Chronic disease management
· Vision screenings
As many individuals in poverty-stricken communities struggle to overcome barriers created by social determinants of health — non-medical factors that influence a person’s health, including conditions in which people are born, grow, live, and work — many CHCs offer transportation, language interpretation, nutrition counseling and case management.
Community health centers have a track record of improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. According to the NACHC, patients who receive care at health centers have fewer emergency room visits, lower hospitalization rates, and better management of chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension.
CHCs provide care for more than 1.4 million individuals experiencing homelessness, deliver mental health services to nearly 2.8 million patients annually, and screen more than 72% of adolescent and adult patients for depression.
CHCs also create economic value by generating jobs and stimulating local economies. In 2021 alone, health centers contributed over $85 billion in economic output, more than $37 billion in labor income and employed more than 500,000 people nationwide.
The Future of Community Health Centers
While CHCs are funded through several sources, which include Medicare and private insurance, the largest share comes from Medicaid and the federal Health Center Program.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was signed into law on July 4, creates significant uncertainty for CHCs. The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) projects that the law will jeopardize health coverage for an estimated 4 million CHC patients and cost CHCs $7 billion annually in increased uncompensated care costs.
CHCs don’t turn patients away, but reductions in Medicaid coverage will force CHCs to make tough budget choices that will impact all patients. NACHC estimates this legislation could lead to at least 34,000 CHC job losses and 1,800 CHC site closures across the country.
These projected impacts come on top of another looming financial challenge: the uncertain future of the Health Center Program’s core funding source. More commonly known as the 330 Grant, this funding comes from a combination of discretionary dollars appropriated annually by Congress and mandatory funding from the Community Health Center Fund, which must be periodically reauthorized. Current funding is set to expire on Sept. 30, 2025. Without reauthorization, CHCs would face further financial instability.
Reflecting on Community Health Center Week
As we celebrate 60 years of community health centers during National Health Center Week, it’s vital to recognize that theses centers are more than healthcare providers — they are lifelines for millions across the United States. By offering accessible, culturally responsive care and addressing social determinants of health, CHCs empower communities to thrive.
More than ever, we must contact policymakers and community leaders to remind them of the importance of continuing to support of CHCs. By investing in community health centers, we invest in healthier futures.
