Community Health Centers in the Economic Downturn

Amid a struggling economy, more people are turning to community health centers for medical care.  About 1,100 health centers serve 20 million people at 7,500 service sites around the country, providing primary, preventive and dental care, and mental health, substance abuse and pharmacy services. These nonprofit, community-run health providers serve a high percentage of the nation’s low-income patients.  Seventy percent of patients have family incomes at or below the federal poverty guidelines—38 percent of health center patients are uninsured, and another 36 percent are enrolled in Medicaid. Between June 2008 and June 2009, uninsured patient visits to health centers increased by 21 percent.