Bureau of Primary Health Care - Health Center Program

Health Center Program

Health Centers are community-based and patient-directed organizations that serve people with limited access to health care. These include low-income patients, the uninsured, those with limited English proficiency, migrant and seasonal farmworkers, individuals and families experiencing homelessness, and those living in public housing.

HRSA-supported clinics provide comprehensive, culturally competent, quality primary health care to a broadly diverse patient base that includes increasing numbers of veterans.

Services include pharmacy, mental health, substance abuse and oral health treatment, as well as supportive services (education, translation, transportation and case management) that promote access to health care and ensure patient well-being.

Health centers are required to be located in or serve a high-need community (a “medically underserved” area or population) — and to make their services available to all patients on a sliding scale, with fees based on ability to pay. By law, health centers must be governed by community boards with majority patient representation.

Looking at national numbers, Health Centers serve:

• 1 in 20 individuals

• 1 in 12 African-Americans

• 1 in 9 Hispanic/Latinos

• 1 in 8 uninsured

• 1 in 7 individuals living below 200 percent of the Federal poverty level

• 1 in 4 homeless individuals and migrant/seasonal farmworkers