Community Health Centers Mark Progress at One-Year Stimulus Anniversary
Bethesda, MD_ People and communities are healthier thanks to the investment in America’s Health Centers from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), or the “economic stimulus.” The law, enacted one year ago this week, provided funds that helped health centers expand care to the growing numbers of jobless and uninsured people who were quickly filling up their waiting rooms. ARRA funds made it possible for health centers to increase capacity in variety of ways in response to the surge in demand. Whether it was expanding a facility, building a new one, expanding hours of operation or hiring a new dentist or clinician, the ARRA investment in health centers is making a difference.
“The recession has brought new patients to the doors of health centers in communities all over the country,” said Dan Hawkins, Senior Vice President of Public Policy for the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC). “The economic stimulus investment in health centers will make it possible to reach nearly 2.9 million new patients, and already they’ve seen the largest influx of new patients in the history of the program.”
Signed on February 17, 2009, the economic stimulus bill provided a one-time funding of $2 billion for health centers to expand care and create jobs. Since the economic stimulus funding was allocated, health centers have been able to expand their reach to 1.8 million patients, including more than 900,000 uninsured individuals.
Some specific examples of health centers that have used the stimulus funds include:
Westside Family Healthcare, Wilmington, DE: The health center has used stimulus funds to expand access to care to 5,680 new patients.
East Boston Neighborhood Health Services, Boston, MA: Stimulus funding has allowed East Boston to create new clinical space for primary care services, vision services, and dental care for the medically underserved and create over 50 permanent health care jobs.
Choptank Community Health System, Denton, MD: Stimulus funds have helped the health center build a new facility to expand care at a time when there has been a 47% increase in the number of patients over the past few years. The investment has also allowed the health center to boost staff and improve coordination and quality of care for patients.
United Neighborhood Health Services, Nashville, TN: With nearly 10 percent unemployment across the state, United Neighborhood has grown by 3,000 new patients since2008. Stimulus funds have enabled United Neighborhood Services to expand care and meet growing demand.
Monmouth Family Health Center, Long Branch, NJ: Stimulus funds have allowed the health center to increase capacity by 40 percent, expand its hours of operation and renovate a facility that provides women’s health services.
North Country HealthCare, Flagstaff, AZ: Stimulus funds allowed North Country to open a new clinic with the capacity to provide over 8,000 patient visits per year, add exam rooms, and expand services.
Golden Valley Health Centers, Merced, CA: Golden Valley Community Health Centers is using stimulus funds to increase their workforce, expand dental services, and double the size of one of its sites to accommodate demand.
Peak Vista Community Health Centers, Colorado Springs, CO: Stimulus funding is being used to cover the staffing and operations of mobile health services and to increase staff.
Butler County Community Health Consortium, Middletown, OH: Stimulus funds will enable the health center to build a new 15,000 to 18,000 square foot medical and dental facility to serve a population of 65,000 with an average of 14,300 individuals at or below the Federal Poverty Level.
Intercare Community Health Network, Bangor, MI: Stimulus funds have allowed Intercare Community Health Network to hire 2 part-time dentists and 2 assistants, and one and half FTE medical providers to meet growing demand in a state hard hit by the recession.
“The economic stimulus funding was the right medicine at the right time and one year later the investment is still delivering results,” said Hawkins. “It is important to remember, however, that this was one-time funding at a time when many states continue to face a growing demand for services while dealing with significant budget shortfalls. Continued and sustained support of health centers is critical because more people in America will struggle to find access to affordable health care while states slash funding for their health programs.”
Nationally, uninsured patient visits are up by 21 percent and are likely to continue increasing as the economic recession lingers.
NACHC has produced a new fact sheet about the ARRA investment and a map showing how the ARRA funds are delivering results in communities. Click here to visit NACHC's web page on ARRA and Health Centers: One Year Later.
Economic impact is further discussed in a separate report released February 16, 2010 by the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, Department of Health Policy. See thepress release and read the report.
Photo: Monmouth Family Health Center, Long Branch, NJ