The National Association of Community Health Centers recently released a report:  “Community Health Centers:  The Local Prescription for Better Quality and Lower Costs” which documents what they are calling “The Health Center Payoff:”

  • Health centers make up a substantial share of the nation’s primary care infrastructure, operating in 8,000 locations and serving 23 million patients
  • Health centers are more likely to accept new patients and offer more evening and weekend hours
  • Expanding health center capacity lowers Emergency Department utilization among low-income populations
  • Health centers save $1,263 per person per year as a result of their timely and appropriate care
  • Investing in health centers creates jobs and fuels additional economic activity through the purchase of goods and services from local businesses

Health centers by nature exemplify the model of a patient-centered medical home.  Read more…