Partnership Center Posts!

Partnership Posts highlight information and resources that we hope will helpful to faith and community-based leaders. The Posts focus on prevention and preventive services and align with National Health Observances.

Get to Know Your Community Health Center!

National Health Center Week is August 9-15

Celebrating 50 years!

Community health centers (CHCs) provide high quality comprehensive health care to patients regardless of their ability to pay. For millions of Americans, community health centers offer services that include physical examinations, preventive services, behavioral health care, dental/oral health care, substance abuse counseling, nutrition education and sometimes more!

The quality of care at community health centers equals and can surpass the care provided by other primary care providers. Through their broad menu of primary and preventives services, they can offer a one-stop -shopping experience for families and individuals.

CHC’s welcome Medicaid and Medicare patients, and also accept Marketplace insurance plans and other forms of private insurance. CHC’s were created to serve medically underserved populations and provide appropriate and necessary services with fees adjusted on a patient’s ability to pay.

So find a CHC near you and connect to services in your community!

At “Home” in Community Health Centers

Many of today’s community health centers are considered “medical homes.” Unlike a hospital emergency room or a drop-in clinic at a pharmacy or store, in a medical home patients have an on-going relationship with a personal physician and clinical team. As a result, medical homes make sure patients get the care when and where they need it, in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner. Medical homescoordinate care for all stages of their life; acute care, chronic care, preventive services, and end of life. A medical home is just that, a full -service “home” for your healthcare needs. To learn more, read “What is a Medical Home? Why is it Important?” on HRSA.gov.

Presidential Proclamation -- National Health Center Week, 2015

NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK, 2015

For a half century, health centers have delivered comprehensive, high quality, cost-effective primary health care to patients regardless of their ability to pay. This week, let us recognize the role of health centers and thank the tireless and dedicated center staff who work long hours to provide fundamental services to those who need them most. Read more

Blog Post from Secretary Burwell -- The Health Center Program: Serving America’s Communities for 50 Years

Fifty years ago, two small health clinics – one in the countryside of Mississippi and one in the city blocks of South Boston – decided to try something novel. They were the pioneers of the Health Center Program, launched in 1965 as a demonstration project of the War on Poverty. Those two health centers committed to providing high-quality health care to residents in their community, regardless of their patients’ ability to pay. Read more

Back to School Health Insurance

The school year means getting a lot of things in order – schedules, supplies, appointments, and activities. Don’t forget putting one of the most important things on the list – health insurance. Students are better able to excel when they have the health care services they need.

Important dates for 2016 enrollment:

November 1, 2015: Open Enrollment starts

January 1, 2016: First date 2016 coverage can start

January 31, 2016: 2016 Open Enrollment ends

If you don’t enroll in a 2016 plan by January 31, 2016, you can’t enroll in a health insurance plan for 2016 unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

You can apply for and enroll in Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) any time of year. There’s no limited enrollment period for either Medicaid or CHIP. If you qualify, your coverage can begin immediately.

You can also connect to a school-based clinic to get connected to the health services you and your family need for a healthy school year.

Keep the conversation going! Please follow @HHSgov @SecBurwell and@HRSAgov for updates on Twitter throughout the week, and use #NHCW15.