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 …
Tennessee releases Medicaid block grant proposal
NACHC Deputy Director of State Affairs Susan Sumrell contributed to this blog post. States are continuing to test the limits of Medicaid waiver flexibility made available to them under the Trump administration. While Alaska, Texas and Georgia are reportedly exploring ways to reform their Medicaid programs, including through the use of block grants, others, like …
More People Are Uninsured
Some sobering news from the U.S. Census: the number of people without health insurance is growing for the first time in 10 years. The number jumped to 27.5 million, up from 25.6 million in 2017 — or 7.9 percent in 2017 to 8.5 percent in 2018. It was also the first year-to-year increase in uninsured …
Some Place to Go When There’s No Place to Go
Bob’s story found its way to our desk, tucked inside the 2018 Annual Report of Yakima Neighborhood Health Services (YNHS). Bob, 78, was left early one morning at the door of the health center’s homeless services facility. He was wrapped in cardboard and a blanket. He had been on a harrowing journey between a hospital, …