Community health centers, or CHCs, are the backbone of America’s health care safety net, providing accessible, comprehensive, and coordinated health care to more than 30 million patients a year, including millions of people with low income, people of color, Medicaid enrollees, and the uninsured.
Yet a new Commonwealth Fund survey shows that more than 70 percent of health centers report worsening workface shortages that threaten their ability to continue providing high-quality care. Additional challenges include rising mental health and substance use treatment needs, changes in Medicaid enrollment, and persistent funding gaps. But the findings also show that CHCs are managing to do more with less. For example, they’re increasing their use of telehealth services, providing more substance use treatment, and screening for social needs.
It's National Health Center Week. Read our new report to learn more about the survey and to find out what policymakers could do to ensure better support for these essential health care providers.
