What Matters for Health Centers
Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are critical partners to Community Health Centers. They work together to provide affordable access to quality care for some of the most vulnerable Americans.
New Information and Resources
NACHC Fact Sheet: Health Centers and Medicaid
NACHC 2018 Policy Paper: Health Centers, A Medicaid Success Story
Medicaid
Health centers care for more than 1 in 6 Medicaid beneficiaries nationally, and roughly half (49%) of health center patients are Medicaid beneficiaries. Not only are health centers’ doors open to all, regardless of ability to pay or insurance status, they generate incredible value to the health care system. On average, health centers save 24% of health care costs per Medicaid beneficiary when compared to other providers.
Quick References
NACHC Infographic Series: – Nuts and Bolts of Medicaid
NACHC Fact Sheet: Health Centers and Medicaid
NACHC 2018 Policy Paper: Health Centers, A Medicaid Success Story
Important Links
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ website for the Medicaid program contains links to important policy and regulations, as well as state specific information.
Founded by NACHC, this nonpartisan, nationwide coalition is made up of organizations representing health care providers, safety net health plans, counties, and labor. The goal of the coalition is to preserve and improve the Medicaid program.
Medicare
Health centers play a critical role in the delivery of high quality, comprehensive care to nearly 2.4 million medically underserved Medicare beneficiaries. Medicare patients currently make up 9 percent of all health center patients nationally, and many health centers serve far more, especially those located in rural areas. In fact, Medicare patients make up at least 15 percent of total patients at roughly one out of every five health centers.
Quick References
NACHC Fact Sheet: Health Centers and Medicare, Caring for America’s Seniors
Medicare FQHC Reimbursement Updates (2019)
Important Links
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ website for the Medicare program. Includes information on Medicare policy.
CMS Medicare and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ site for information specific to FQHCs and Medicare, including policy updates and CMS manuals.
The Children’s Health Insurance Program
The Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, is a crucial source of health care coverage for nearly 10 million children nationwide and a valuable partner to health centers. About a third of all health center patients are kids, and CHIP and health centers together help make sure these kids get the high-quality care they deserve.