In the “Show Me State” of Missouri, a Community Health Center in the city of St. Joseph showed everyone just how to pull off a miracle. With just $42,000 in their budget, and more than just a few skeptics who said there wasn’t enough money or time, the determined staff at Northwest Health Services opened a …
Author: Amy Simmons Farber
More Children are Uninsured
The fresh start of a new decade brings renewed interest in the growing numbers of uninsured children in our nation. Four million children are now uninsured, an increase of than 400,000 between 2016 and 2018, according to the U.S. Census. The new numbers point to a new downward trend after a trajectory of coverage among …
2019: Leaving Us Certain about Uncertainty
We turn the page on 2019 and plunge ahead to 2020 with a lot of unfinished work. A key task left unfinished as we approach a new decade is long-term and stable funding for Community Health Centers, now operating under a temporary measure through May 22nd. Even so, health centers are no less supported; indeed, …
It’s National Rural Health Day
There are still plenty of places in the U.S. where it’s easier to purchase a round bale of hay than health care. Approximately 20 percent of the U.S. population—about 60 million people—live in rural areas, which make up 97 percent of the land area in the United States, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration. That’s …
Faces of the Movement: From Health Center Patient to Health Center Physician
When Toni Zink declared that God told her she was going to be a doctor one day her mother had every reason to be skeptical. Her daughter was only 4 years old. But then again, Toni Zink was a determined young lady who never let something as inconsequential as youth get in the way of …
A Boston Health Center is a Pillar of Support for Veterans
Since Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Center (HSNHC) first opened its doors in 1969 it has been an invaluable source of primary care for residents of some of the poorest communities in Boston — Mattapan, Dorchester, Roxbury, and the South End area. It has also become a pillar of support for veterans by providing services close …
Media Matters
Getting traction in the news is a great way to influence public policy, but it’s challenging when everyone is talking about something else. The speed of the news cycle, the media’s short attention span, particularly on complex issues, can make it hard to start a conversation with a reporter — especially now. Health care is …
Here’s What We Know About the Fires in California & Health Centers
NACHC is closely tracking the fires that have devastated so many communities across Northern and Southern California, particularly the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County and the Tick Fire in Los Angeles County. California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a statewide emergency. The Kincade Fire, fueled by strong winds, has swelled to be the state’s largest …
Health Centers Serving More Medicaid Patients Than Ever
Community Health Centers are serving more Medicaid patients than ever. A NACHC analysis reveals that in 2018 health centers served 1 in 5 Medicaid beneficiaries (up from 1 in 6 in 2018, or roughly 14 million people). As the nation’s largest network of safety net primary care providers, health centers serve a large and growing …
Fighting Breast Cancer Without Insurance
One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their life – many of them will survive with the help of early diagnosis and treatment. This year, it’s estimated that 268,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women. After a diagnosis, health insurance coverage is integral …