Advocacy

What is a Community Health Center?

A Community Health Center (CHC) is a non-profit, community-based, and patient-directed organization that serves those with limited access to healthcare. CHCs are sometimes referred to as “Federally Qualified Health Centers” because being a CHC requires a federal designation from the Health Services Resources Administration (HRSA), given only after a rigorous and competitive evaluation process. CHCs retain this special designated status by meeting quality, service, compliance, and accountability standards on an ongoing basis.

The health center program started in 1964 as part of the Civil Rights Act to help bring health services to medically underserved areas in rural and urban America. The program began with two health centers – in rural Mississippi and inner-city Boston – and has since grown to roughly 1,500 health centers nationwide. Collectively, health centers comprise one of the country’s largest health systems, serving 34 million people, including 10 million children, 4.1 million seniors, and 428,000 veterans.

Every CHC is unique and reflects the particular needs of the communities it serves. However, there are six fundamental elements they have in common:

They all serve communities with high medical needs.
Health centers must provide a comprehensive scope of services that are provided in a coordinated and integrated manner.
They are non-profits governed by a board comprised primarily of patients, so patients have an active role in directing those services.
A core requirement and value is that no one is turned away from care and services are available to all, with fees adjusted based upon ability to pay.
CHCs collaborate with other providers and organizations to maximize resources and efficiencies.
And lastly, they are accountable to HRSA for their performance on meeting needs, efficient operations, and clinical outcomes.

Washington State is home to 28 CHCs. North Olympic Healthcare Network (NOHN) was founded in 2015 by transforming a longtime private clinic, Family Medicine of Port Angeles, into the CHC model in an attempt to address the community’s longstanding health care access needs more effectively. NOHN is the only full-scope community health center on the North Olympic Peninsula. Under the CHC model, NOHN has recruited 25 new medical providers who have stayed in our community. It expanded the range of services available to include dental care, behavioral health, optometry, and pharmacy. NOHN has provided medical home access to an additional 16,500 patients since 2016, now caring for more than 18,000 patients and adding another 100-200 patients each month.

Ensuring community access to high-quality and comprehensive healthcare is NOHN’s primary goal and underlies its mission “to provide patient-centered, quality-driven, whole-person healthcare services that are accessible to everyone in the community”.

Health Centers in the U.S.:

Serve as the health care home for nearly 34 million patients in over 16,000 communities across the country
Reduce health care costs, saving an average of 24% per Medicaid patient compared to other providers
Integrate medical, specialty and social services such as mental health, substance use treatment, oral health, case management, translation services, transportation, and employment services
Create 326,000 jobs and generate an estimated $118.4 billion in total economic impact in local communities
Provide care to 428,000 veterans, 1.5 million patients experiencing homelessness, 4.1 million adults over age 65, and 1 in 9 children.

Legislative Priorities

Health center funding: Government funding, including approximately $6 billion in funding for CHCs, will expire on January 30, 2026. Congress must act to protect patient access to CHCs.
Workforce investment: Health centers need public policies that contribute to a robust primary care workforce that is ready and willing to fill current staffing needs at health centers, as well as serve that role into the future.
Telehealth: CHCs pioneered the use of telehealth technology to expand access to comprehensive services, especially behavioral health, in hard-to-reach rural and underserved communities. Congressional action is needed to protect patient access to telehealth at CHCs.
340B Drug Pricing Program: The 340B program, created by Congress in 1992, requires drug manufacturers to provide discounts on certain medications to community health centers like North Olympic Healthcare Network (NOHN). The savings from these discounts help us expand healthcare access in our community and keep your prescriptions affordable.
Medicaid: CHCs and the Medicaid program share a goal of making healthcare more affordable for Americans. CHCs are a key partner for Medicaid as it seeks innovative solutions to improve health while lowering costs.

Take Action

Send an email to your members of Congress with a few quick clicks and ask them to pass increased CHC funding.
(Please choose North Olympic Healthcare Network/NOHN in the “Organization” section of the form.)

Your Federal Representatives

Health Centers in Washington State:

Serve as the health care home for nearly 1.2 million patients at more than 350 sites across the state.
Have more than 50 years of delivering comprehensive, whole-person care tailored to the needs of underserved populations, including 677,612 patients on Apple Health (Medicaid).
Create more than 12,000 full-time jobs providing primary care services, preventive services, and wraparound services.
Provide care to 23,800 veterans, 114,200 patients experiencing homelessness, 124,271 adults over age 65, and 352,750 children.

Take Action

Send an email to your state legislators with just a few clicks and ask them to continue to support community health centers.
(Please choose North Olympic Healthcare Network (NOHN) in the “Organization” section of the form.)