Community health center

An ambulatory health care program usually serving a catchment area with scarce or non-existent health services or a population with special health needs. Often known as neighborhood health centers. Grant support for such centers was originally provided on a research and demonstration basis from the Community Action Program of the Office of Economic Opportunity. Subsequently, the funding authority for these projects shifted to section 314 (e) of the Public Health Service Act. Community health centers attempt to coordinate Federal, State, and local resources in a single organization capable of delivering both health care and related social services to a defined population. Other ambulatory centers providing health services in areas of medical underservice and supported with 314 (e) funds include family health centers and community health networks. The Health Revenue Sharing and Health Services Act of 1975, incorporates “neighborhood health centers,” “family health centers” and ”community health networks” under the single term, ”community health centers,” defined in section 330 of the PHS Act. While such centers may not directly provide all types of health care, they usually take responsibility for arranging for all medical services needed by their patients.


A term used loosely to cover community, migrant, and homeless health centers. Over 30 years ago, the federal government established a network of community and migrant health centers through grants from the U.S. Public Health Service. There are now 571 of these centers. Two-thirds of their patients are women and children. The centers employ or contract for the services of 3,600 physicians as well as other providers. To these centers have been added 119 homeless health centers through the Health Care for the Homeless Programs, also with funds from the U.S. Public Health Service. The total is 690 centers. All together, they provide comprehensive preventive and primary health services to medically underserved populations, both rural and urban, of more than 7,000,000 people at 1,400 sites across the country, including Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. The centers are built on a public-private partnership and are supported by federal, state, and local funds, as well as by private sources. The term includes “neighborhood health centers,” “family health centers,” and “community health networks (CHNs).” Sometimes called a “Section 330” [of the Public Health Service Act] health services group. [Further information can be obtained from the National Association of Community Health Centers, Inc.]


 


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