As seen in the FY2011 federal budget fight, the current FY2012 budget discussions are shaping up to be equally if not more contentious.  While the federal government and state legislators grapple with proposed budget cuts and looming budget deficits, programs that provide services to the most vulnerable in our society may be at risk.  According to the National Conference on State Legislatures (NSCL), for 2012-13 state deficits are expected to total $150 billion.  Moreover, federal proposals to overhaul Medicaid and Medicare, the new proposed rules regarding accountable care organizations, and the federal debt limit debate create a perfect storm that will have long-term system changing impact on Community Health Centers (CHCs). 

In times of fiscal restraint, many may ask, “Why do community health centers matter?” Nationally, CHCs serve greater than 23 million people in more than 8,000 communities across the country.  Approximately 35 percent of health center patients are Medicaid recipients, approximately 40 percent are uninsured and approximately 7.5 percent are Medicare beneficiaries. 

In Maryland, there are 16 Community Health Centers that provide care to over 266,000 patients in urban and rural communities across the State and support about 2,095 jobs. With health care expansion, between 2011 and 2015, community health centers in Maryland plan to add an additional 100,000 patients to their rolls. In Delaware, there are 3 Community Health Centers that provide care to over 34,000 patients across the state. Within the next five years under health care reform, Delaware CHCs expect to add an additional 17,000 to 34,000 patients. Nationwide, 1,136 health centers operate more than 8,400 clinics and mobile medical vans, providing affordable primary and preventive care on a sliding fee scale to more than 13 million low-income children and adults.

Additionally, the return on investment in Community Health Centers is significant, producing an estimated $24 billion in annual health system savings. Furthermore, CHCs support many businesses both directly and indirectly. Directly, CHCs purchase medical supplies and equipment from local and national distributors. CHC employees and their families also spend millions of dollars on goods and services, spurring additional job and economic growth.  In Maryland, the $131 million in revenue received by CHCs spurs an estimated $241 million dollars of activity. 

Beyond their cost-saving, quality improvement mission, there is another reason that CHCs matter. They matter because of the people we serve. They are our mothers, fathers, children, brothers sisters, uncle, aunts and cousins. They are the men and women who work every day to build better lives for their families.  They are the souls who have fallen through the cracks of our society who want a second chance. They are the children who receive preventive and dental care from our centers.  As the debates rage in Washington and in our state capitols regarding budgets and fiscal responsibility, we must remember that CHCs matter not only because they provide quality cost saving services. But, most importantly, they matter because people matter.

Click Here to view MACHC's OpEd on Medicaid.

Click Here to view our press release urging Congress to support Community Health Centers.
 

Community Health Center Fact Sheets

MACHC has compiled data from the National Association of Community Health Centers, the Bureau of Primary Health Care's 2010 Uniform Data System (UDS), and our own research to provide each of our member health centers with a fact sheet to present to elected officials. Click on the Links below to find the fact sheet for you health center and urge Congress to support Community Health Centers.
Click Here to find the contact information for the elected officials in your district.

Delaware

Henrietta Johnson Medical Center
La Red Health Center

Maryland

Baltimore Medical System, Inc.
Choptank Community Health System, Inc.
Family Health Centers of Baltimore
Park West Medical System, Inc.
Three Lower Counties Community Services
Total Health Care, Inc.
Walnut Street Community Health Center
West Cecil Health Center