The federal government funded the first neighborhood health centers in the 1960s. Since then, the Health Center Program has grown to be a key part of the nation’s health care system.
Health centers combine medical, dental, mental health, substance use, and other services. They focus on the needs of each patient, and they make sure their providers work together to provide the best care.
Who health centers serve
In 2023, more than 31 million people relied on HRSA-funded health centers for care, including:
- 1 in 8 children
- 24.7 million uninsured, Medicaid, and Medicare patients
- More than 9.7 million rural residents
- Over 1.4 million people without homes
- 1 million agricultural workers
- More than 1.1 million patients served at schools
- 585,000 pregnant patients and 172,000 deliveries
- Nearly 405,000 Veterans
About 90% of these patients had incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.
How health centers answer the call
In 2023, health centers responded to the needs of their communities by providing access to affordable, comprehensive, high-quality primary health care services through 132.5 million total visits.
Health centers are also on the front lines of the opioid crisis.
In 2023, health centers provided:
- Substance use disorder services to 294,000 patients
- Medications for opioid use disorder to nearly 208,000 patients
Health centers are answering the call for increased access to mental health services nationwide.
In 2023, health centers:
- Provided mental health services to nearly 2.8 million patients
- Screened more than 72% of teen and adult patients for depression
As part of the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative, health centers play an integral role in helping to prevent, diagnose, and treat HIV.
In 2023, they:
- Screened more than 3.4 million patients
- Linked almost 80% of those newly diagnosed with HIV to care within 30 days
Health centers ensure access to preventive health screenings. In 2023, they screened:
- Almost 1.9 million patients for breast cancer
- Nearly 4.3 million patients for cervical cancer
- Over 3.3 million patients for colorectal cancer
How we make health care better
We invest to improve health care quality. We want health centers to lead in primary care.
Why we support the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model
- We’ve helped 78% of health centers achieve and maintain PCMH status.
- PCMH status requires that a health center:
- Focus on the needs of each patient
- Show ongoing efforts to improve quality
- Coordinate care across all areas
- The PCMH model improves care for chronic illness, preventive care, and patient safety.
- It also leads to higher satisfaction for patients and providers, and it lowers costs.
What advantages health centers have
- Health center patients have better outcomes at a lower cost. This is true even though health centers treat people who are sicker and have lower incomes.
- Patients who receive care at a health center make fewer visits to emergency rooms and hospitals.
- According to the most recent Health Center Patient Survey, 97% of patients would recommend their health center to family or friends.