Community Health Centers are a Proven Model of Care
Community health centers have been providing affordable primary and preventive care for over 40 years. The clinic sites are located in areas with provider shortages and offer high-quality care to everyone regardless of financial status or insurance coverage.
It’s been proven on a national level that CHCs save money for the Medicaid program, lower the cost of health care, and stimulate local economy and those are key elements for solving the issues with America’s health system.
- Access for All
Community health centers provide access to care for everyone regardless of their insurance coverage or financial status in areas of the Dakotas that face provider shortages.
- Quality Primary and Preventive Cost-Effective Care
Community health centers put patients at the center of high-quality primary and preventie health care services which lowers costs by reducing the frequency of expensive specialty and emergency room visits.
- Multi-disciplinary Network of Services
Strive to meet not only the physical, behavioral, and dental health needs, but also the transportation, language, eligibility assistance, and case management needs of each patient.
- Community Engagement and Impact
Provide an economic impact to their communities by creating jobs and supporting the local economy. Community members make up the governing Board of Directors that is composed of at least 51% active patients who represent the population being served.
Five Characteristics of a CHC:
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Location in a high-need area
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Provide comprehensive primary health care services
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Serve all patients regardless of insurance status or ability to pay
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Governed by a board of directors made up of at leat 51% active patients who represent the community served
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Ability to meet federal administrative, clinical, and financial operations requirement
As the primary care association for North and South Dakota, CHAD works to support the mission of community health centers by assuring high-quality primary health care through public policy and community-driven health services. CHAD staff offer technical assistance and services that support the level of excellence that is expected of each community health center site.
Find a community health center in a community near you.
Find out more about adding a community health center in your community.
Not sure how a community health center is different from a rural health clinic?
Check out these key areas in this comparison chart.
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