BGB Lesson 1 – Health Center History
Whis is a Community Health Center
Community Health Centers provide health care and related services to underserved populations with limited access to care.
These health care services are directed to:
- Low Income populations
- The Uninsured
- Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers
- Individuals and Families experiencing homelessness
- Individuals with limited English proficiency
- Those living in Public Housing
Historical Beginnings
Knowing the early history and its purpose for existing provides board members with a good foundation on which to govern wisely for their community’s health care needs.
In the 1960’s health care became part of President Lyndon Johnson’s “War on Poverty”.
In his 1964 State of the Union Address President Lyndon Johnson stated, “Our aim is not only to relieve the symptoms of poverty, but to cure it and above all prevent it.” This declaration would lead to the landmark legislation passed in August of that year as the 1964 Economic Opportunity Act. This legislation was the centerpiece of President Johnson’s “War on Poverty” and created over a thousand community action agencies.
The Neighborhood Health Center, as it was originally named, was one of the many agencies created under the Office of Economic Opportunity better known as the (OEO). The health centers were designed and run with extensive community involvement.
Federal funds for these neighborhood centers were given directly to nonprofit, community–level organizations, bypassing state governments.
Funding was approved for the first two health centers in 1965.
The health centers were based on a community health model Dr. Geiger had previously studied in South Africa that resulted in significant improvements to public health.
The first health center opened in a housing project in Dorchester, MA in 1965 and the second in Mound Bayou, Mississippi in 1967.
The first health centers encouraged community involvement to make sure they were responsive to their communities needs.
Although the Medicare and Medicaid programs were created about the same time, these programs would not be part of the health center program until many years later.
As one would expect, there have been many changes and legislative improvements through the years but the guiding principles of the Community Health Center program have remained intact and mandate these basic principles:
- Provide Primay Care
- Provide comprehensive services available to all regardless of an individual’s ability to pay
- Provide a sliding fee patient discount based on family income
- Be goverened by a community board of directors with a majority using the health center
For over 50 years Community Health Centers have played a vital role in America’s healthcare system.
According to the latest statistics from the Health Resources Services Administration, the Community Health Center program supports approximately 1,400 community based and patient directed health centers with over 11,000 sites and serving over 28 million people!
Community Health Centers are now providing primary care to one in fourteen people living in the United States!
Collectively, Community Health Centers are the largest healthcare network in America!
You should know the answer to these questions from Lesson 1
Early Community Health Center programs were created to coordinate heath department programs and the efforts of volunteer agencies to meet the community’s healthcare needs
- True
- False
The centerpiece legislation created from President Johnson’s 1964 State of the Union Address led to the creation of the:
- Center for Disease Control
- Equal Opportunity Act
- Public Health Service Act
- Affordable Care Act
Funding was approved for the first two community health centers in
- 1920
- 1955
- 1965
- 1975
Community Health Centers were designed to meet the needs of the
- State
- Federal Programs
- Local Health Department
- Local Communities
Collectively, Community Health Centers are the largest heath care network in America.
- True
- False
