Changing Lives

The Issue

Some of America’s most vulnerable communities lack ready access to comprehensive primary health care.
Far too often, uninsured, low-income families rely on overcrowded emergency rooms to meet their medical needs.
Without access to high-quality preventive care, the medically underserved needlessly suffer illness and injury that early treatment might have otherwise avoided.

The Response: President’s Health Center Initiative

President Bush launched his Health Center Initiative in 2002 in an effort to expand access to primary medical care in high-need areas.
These Community Health Centers (CHCs) serve people of all ages, with or without health insurance, and regardless of race or ethnicity.
The President set the goal of adding 1,200 new and expanded CHC sites through the Health Center Initiative within a 5-year period, reaching millions of people who might otherwise have gone without basic medical care.
As of December 2008, the Administration has since exceeded that goal, with more than 1,200 new or expanded CHCs.
With a finger on the community’s pulse of need, CHCs can address their patients’ priorities unlike any other health care provider and effectively deliver services in traditionally hard-to-reach areas.
Funding for CHCs in 2008 represents a nearly $900 million (77%) increase over 2001 levels. CHCs have received $12 billion in funding from 2002 to 2008. Faith-based CHCs are an important part of this work, receiving more than $70 million in 2006.

The Results

In 2006, CHCs treated nearly six million uninsured patients, 40% of all CHC patients. This is an increase of over 50% from the four million treated in 2001.
With 2009 projected funding, the number of patients treated at CHCs annually will have increased by 60% to an estimated 16.25 million. Patients receiving dental services increased 95%, and patients receiving mental health care increased 190%.
The Administration has placed special focus on reaching high-poverty areas previously not served by CHCs. In August 2007, the Administration announced 80 new site awards in high-poverty areas without a CHC, which will provide health care access to an estimated 300,000 Americans. The Administration will continue its work to establish CHCs in medically underserved areas around the country.
The neediest Americans are, and continue to be, the primary beneficiaries of CHCs.

Over 92% of CHC patients are low-income individuals (i.e., their income is below 200% of the poverty line).
64% of CHC patients reside in minority communities.

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