Do people live longer when they have access to a primary care provider? A growing body of evidence suggests there is a link between access to primary care and a longer life. A case in point is a study recently published in JAMA Internal Medicine which found that mortality rates are lower in U.S. counties with …
Reflections on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
On this special day of remembrance for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. we find ourselves also thinking about how Community Health Centers came into existence as part of a “ripple effect” from the Civil Rights Movement. A group of civil rights activists descended upon rural Mississippi to register voters as part Freedom Summer. What they …
NACHC Launches Mental Health First Aid Programs with Americares
NACHC recently partnered with Americares to increase access to Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training for health center employees across the country. The MHFA initiative could not come at a more critical time for health centers. Patient visits for behavioral health services, including mental health and substance use disorders, have grown by 83% since 2010. …
NAPs Funding Opportunity Comes with Scoring Changes
BPHC has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Number HRSA-19-080, announcing $50 million for New Access Points (NAPs). Approximately 75 NAPs are expected to be funded. As in the past, NAP applications may be submitted by new organizations (new applicants) or by health centers currently receiving Health Center Program operational funding (satellite applicants.) The …
Our Round Up of the Year 2018: Resilience
It has been a year of trials and tribulations for Community Health Centers but our theme for the year is “Resilience.” Health centers have more than five decades of experience confronting setbacks and threats and emerging stronger than ever. The pattern remains unbroken in 2018. A brief funding cliff ushered in the New Year before …
Latest on ACA Litigation: Community Health Center Patients Are Still Covered
A federal judge recently ruled that the entire Affordable Care Act (ACA) is unconstitutional, sparking a great deal of speculation and confusion among health care advocates about the future of health coverage. We will talk in a little more detail about the ruling and potential next steps below, but it is important to start with …
Same Day Billing Policies Affect Health Centers and Patients
Community Health Centers have a long-standing and proud tradition of providing patient-centered care. That means a patient’s individual needs and health outcomes drive clinical decisions. A key feature of how many health centers accomplish that task is through the integration of primary care and behavioral health. Health check-ups in the exam room focus on both …
Health Center Staff Join Forces to Tackle Active Shooter/Active Killer Scenarios
Active shooter situations often start and end quickly – generally about 10 to 15 minutes elapse between the start of an event and when law enforcement arrives. For this reason, mental and physical preparation are key. Earlier this month, NACHC partnered with Black Hawk Emergency Management Group, LLC, an organization specializing in disaster prevention and …
Celebrating Healthy Meals During Thanksgiving
With the Thanksgiving holiday nearly upon us, cooking healthy meals is on our minds. That brought us to Mary’s Center, a health center in Washington, D.C. Mary’s Center is no ordinary health center. The site we visited in the neighborhood of Fort Totten (one of 8 locations) opened just two years ago and operates a …
#GivingTuesday
Giving Tuesday is a day devoted to philanthropy and giving back, fueled by social media and collaboration among organizations. The day, set aside on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (Nov. 27 this year), is becoming a global movement and also a useful tool for Community Health Centers. #GivingTuesday, an organization devoted to helping groups and individuals …