Number of Patients Relying on Health Centers Jumps 61% since 2000 Weiner Unveils New Federal Grants to Help City Centers Provide Care
A record-level of New Yorkers turning to community health centers for basic care, according to a new report released today by Representative Anthony Weiner (D – Brooklyn and Queens), a member of the House Commerce Subcommittee on Health.
The Weiner study showed 61% spike in the number of patients using community health clinics over the last 7 years. There are a total of 33 community health centers operating in 180 sites in New York City.
Highlights of the Community Health Center Study
- New York City community health clinics have seen a 61% increase in the number of patients they serve – a spike from 410,884 in 2000 to 660,656 patients in 2007
- Total visits citywide jumped 49% – from 2.5 million visits in 2000 to 3.3 million in 2007
- Nationwide, the number of patients visiting health centers jumped 67% between 2000 and 2007 – to 16.1 million patients from 9.6 million
- In 2008, 18 million people were served nationally by health centers, approximately 700,000 of those patients were served in NYC or nearly 4 percent.
Community health centers are public and private non-profit health care organizations that serve populations with limited access to health care. Health Centers provide high-quality, family-oriented, primary and preventive health care, regardless of patients' ability to pay.
Because many patients are uninsured, clinics only get reimbursed an average of 30 cents for every dollar of care they provide.
