America needs community health centers, but these health centers need funding 

Community health centers (CHCs) are the cornerstone of the U.S. primary care ecosystem, providing essential care. almost 10% of the populationone third of the total population lives in poverty.

These wellness hubs provide accessible dental and vision services, chronic disease care, reproductive health and behavioral health resources, and are a bulwark of public health. For example, at the height of the pandemic, CHC provided services such as: Over 22 million vaccinations administered69 percent of those shots went to people of color.

Although CHCs are rooted in high-need communities, the impact of their care extends to everyone. CHC responsible It generates far-reaching economic benefits of nearly $85 billion annually, including more than 500,000 high-quality jobs, and helps control rising national health care costs.

It's no wonder, then, that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are working hard to ensure CHCs have government funding to continue providing these invaluable services, especially in hard-pressed rural areas. there is no. one of the hardest hit Due to the worsening shortage of clinicians, From Georgia to Texas. Because there aren't enough private primary care providers in the area, his CHC is often the only place he can get care within a few hours' drive.

Both senate And that House introduces bipartisan legislation to expand the landmark Community Health Center Fund (CHCF), providing billions of dollars in base funding as well as additional investments in staffing, mental health services, and expanded hours of operation. provide.

While these actions are important steps forward, it is also time to strengthen the role of CHCs in our health system and recognize that they are a golden investment. To support CHCs in the long term, we need to rethink and strengthen the financial foundations of the health center ecosystem.

Consider helping CHC fund investments in our community’s future

Former President George W. Bush led the expansion of community health centers. explained them As a “wise use of tax dollars.'' More than that, they represent an investment with incremental benefits.

In testifying in support of the Senate's CHCF reauthorization bill, Advocates for Community Health CEO Amanda Piers Kelly cited the data. Says Health centers save $24 billion annually in health care costs through more cost-effective care. Even this remarkable number discounts the overall economic benefits of community health centers. Every dollar of federal funds invested in CHCs creates a virtuous cycle of economic activity through increased local spending on health services, food services, transportation, construction, and more.

We need to change our perspective on what it means to put money into community health centers. So funding is about more than just keeping the lights on in a particular clinic serving a particular population. This is a way to meet our moral obligation to care for our neighbors while promoting the revitalization of underserved and often disinvested neighborhoods, stimulating the job market, and We support the healthy development of generations.

Increase opportunities for CHCs to participate in value-based care models

Direct funding is important, but so is opening the door to long-term financial sustainability. Value-based care models offer CHCs a promising path to revenue growth through incentives that reward health centers for the superior outcomes they have already produced for patients.

In 2017, Three quarters of CHC Although they reported that clinical quality benchmarking would make them eligible for financial incentives if they had the opportunity to participate in a value-based care model, only 39% participated in accountable care at that time.

Closing that gap by increasing CHC's unique value-based care options, especially for Medicaid patients, will build on CHC's proven track record of achieving better outcomes at lower costs than other providers. As you build up, you have the potential to accelerate your financial sustainability.

Some states are already at the forefront of this trend. new york and Oregon. Both are conducting advanced Medicaid reviews centered around value-based care, and are specifically assisting with his transition to CHC.

Support staffing efforts to attract and retain qualified clinicians.

over 100 million Americans I live in an area where there is a lack of primary care; 165 million I live in an area where mental health care is lacking. These numbers are likely to increase further as the current clinical staffing shortage worsens. full-fledged crisis. CHCs are designed to help combat medical deserts by strategically locating them in underserved areas, but with highly qualified clinicians, social workers, and support staff, along with other Without incentives to encourage people to choose community practice over career options, they cannot operate effectively.

The Senate version of the CHCF reauthorization bill, which includes nearly $4 billion to address the shortage of primary care doctors and nurses through education programs and debt forgiveness, would be a good start.

Policymakers should supplement these efforts with additional education and work experience opportunities to stimulate clinical creativity and provide first-hand insight into how to practice efficiently and effectively in the safety net. should also be considered. Other useful initiatives include: Telemedicine flexibility in the age of COVID-19 This includes team-based initiatives, such as increasing access to virtual care in underserved areas and expanding the roles of nurses, physician assistants, and community health workers to enhance continuity of traditional care. We aim to invest in care.

Together, we can build a future where access to quality health care is not a privilege but a right for all. By viewing CHCs through the lens of the extraordinary value they bring to everyone, we can help our community health centers stand strong, open their doors wide, let their light shine brightly, and build a healthier nation for everyone. We can make the world a reality by lighting the way to the world.

Dave A. Chokshi M.D. is a physician at Bellevue Hospital, a Sternberg Family Professor at the City University of New York, and a former New York City Health Commissioner. He also serves as an independent director of Yuvo Health, which works with community health centers to provide values-based care.