Health Center Advocacy

Serving 1 in 11 people nationwide and 1 in 7 residents in Massachusetts, Community Health Centers, also known as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), are nonprofit, patient-governed organizations that provide high-quality, comprehensive primary health care to all patients, regardless of income or insurance status.

Health centers help increase access to crucial primary care by reducing barriers such as cost, lack of insurance, distance, and language for their patients. In doing so, health centers provide substantial benefits to the country and its health care system. For instance:

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In 2022, health centers and marked the historic milestone of serving 31.5 million patients.

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Health centers generate $85 billion in economic activity in their communities.

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Health centers save the health system $24 billion annually.

Sources: (1) 2022 Uniform Data System, HRSA, DHHS. (2) American Community Survey, 2021.

Visit https://www.hcadvocacy.org/ to learn more.

Learn more about the rich history of the Community Health Center movement in America:

History of Community Health Centers (Mass League of Community Health Centers)

Video: Out in the Rural – A Health Center in Mississippi