The document discusses the history and role of Community Health Centers in providing healthcare to underserved communities in the US. It notes that Community Health Centers have served nearly 18 million people over 42 years, with the majority being low-income, uninsured or on Medicaid. It advocates for continued growth of Community Health Centers to serve more of the 56 million Americans who lack adequate healthcare access. It also outlines challenges like increasing numbers of uninsured and changes to health insurance that affect Community Health Centers, and opportunities through provisions in the Affordable Care Act.

2. July 20, 2010 Ken Loving, M.D. Interim Chief Executive Officer Chief Medical Officer Community Health Centers: The Cornerstone of Care for the Underserved

3. Proud History 42 years of improving health in underserved communities and providing local ownership and control of delivery system Large national network nearly 18 million people served: 40% uninsured; 37% Medicaid/SCHIP; 63% people of color; 92% low-income individuals Record of Achievement cited by IOM, OMB, and GAO for excellence in care, disparities reduction, cost-effectiveness, and community benefit Bipartisan support Congressional majority and key Presidential candidates praise work, mission of health centers, call for continuation & growth Community Health Centers Today

4. Brief History of Health Centers Unique Public-Private Partnership : resources directly to community-owned organizations Health Centers’ two-fold purpose : be agents of care in communities with specific need be agents of change , giving communities control of their health care system

5. NACHC National Association of Community Health Centers Provides research-based advocacy for health centers and their patients. Educates the public about the mission and value of health centers. Develops alliances with private partners and key stakeholders for delivery of primary health care services to communities in need.

6. NACHC’s Vision for the Future Grow health centers to become the health care home for 51 million medically disenfranchised Americans Reform health professions training programs to promote primary care careers, diversity, and service in underserved areas via health centers Preserve the Medicaid guarantee of coverage for low-income, elderly & disabled Americans

7. Wire every health center for complete health information technology (HIT) Lead the way to a high-performing health system, grounded in primary care Play a central role in emergency preparedness at the local & national levels NACHC’s Vision for the Future (cont.)

8. Why is Health Center Growth Needed? 56 Million People Are Medically Disenfranchised

9. Why Health Centers? Costs: – Total patient care costs 41% lower than those served in other settings* – Save up to $18 billion annually for taxpayers and society* Access: – Serve people & communities not served by others – Open to all regardless of ability to pay Quality: – Quality is equal or superior to other providers** * Robert Graham Center ** George Washington University, August, 2006.

10. Why Health Centers? Full-cost reimbursement from Medicaid FTCA Coverage Unique Health Care Home Model Pharmacy Services (340B) Sliding Fee Scale

11. Who Will Staff Future Health Centers? A.T. Still Medical & Dental Schools now training future CHC clinicians National Health Service Corps revisions to give preference to CHCs for NHSC placements Teaching health centers building on existing models to expand CHC-based teaching & training of future clinicians Linkages with training programs expanding use of CHCs as training sites across country

12. Also Needed: Partnerships with Other Safety Net/Community Providers Organize continuum of care for uninsured locally Streamline and simplify eligibility rules and enrollment procedures Allocate responsibilities for various care levels to maximize effectiveness Ensure that uninsured get the care they need within available resources

13. What Are The Biggest Challenges We Face? Growth in Uninsured Now 47M, +2.2M in 2006, many more coming to health centers daily Decline in Charity Care Cutbacks by private providers squeezed by declining income Loss of Medicaid/SCHIP Coverage Citizenship documentation, threat to SCHIP funding Changing Nature of Insurance Coverage Growing shift to high-deductible/HSA plans that cover little or no preventive/primary care, causing huge losses for CHCs

14. Opportunities: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) 11 billion dollars over 5 years 20 million more patients 15,000 more providers 300 million dollars for NHSC Almost 50 million dollars to support primary care residencies

15. Local Initiative-AFFILIATION Improve patient care Enhance educational opportunities Serve more patients Develop primary care workforce of the future