The AP (1/27, Shastri ) reported there are “nearly 1,400 federally designated community health centers” that provide “routine medical care, social services and, in some cases, fresh food” to about “one in 11 Americans.” These community health centers “serve as a critical safety net in every state and U.S. territory for low-income people of all ages,” but the “safety net” is “under stress,” as there has been “a 45% increase in the number of people seeking care” since 2012. On top of that, “many centers are short-staffed and struggling to compete for doctors, mental health professionals, nurses and dentists.”
Related Links:
— “Community health centers serve 1 in 11 Americans. They’re a safety net under stress,” Devi Shastri, Associated Press, January 27, 2024