The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

This week is National Health Center Week, which was established to celebrate the work of community health centers that provide low-income people and those who lack access to health care with affordable and accessible primary and preventive care.

Federally-Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) provide a medical safety net for the uninsured as well as those without a reliable source of health care.  These centers focus on improving community health in inner city and rural areas by offering affordable or free health services, including dental and mental health services.  Community health centers also offer health education, substance abuse programs, transportation, and medical translation. 

FQHCs serve as the principal medical outlet for 18 million Americans who would otherwise lack adequate access to primary care.  Of those served, 71 percent of patients have family incomes at or below the poverty line and 39 percent are uninsured.  Of those who do have some form of health insurance, many either have too little coverage, or live in areas with few doctors.  Without the aid of FQHCs, there would be almost a quarter more people without access to health services.

The National Association of Community Health Centers hopes to reach even more people through its ACCESS for All America program.  By expanding and strengthening the network of FQHCs, ACCESS plans to provide 30 million people with affordable and accessible health care by 2015.