skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Young people in Georgia on the brink of reshaping political landscape; Garland faces down GOP attacks over Hunter Biden inquiry; rural Iowa declared 'ambulance desert.'

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

McConnell warns government shutdowns are "a loser for Republicans," Schumer takes action to sidestep Sen. Tuberville's opposition to military appointments, and advocates call on Connecticut governor to upgrade election infrastructure.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

An Indigenous project in South Dakota seeks to protect tribal data sovereignty, advocates in North Carolina are pushing back against attacks on public schools, and Arkansas wants the hungriest to have access to more fruits and veggies.

Colorado Community Health Centers Add $1.7 Billion in Economic Activity

play audio
Play

Thursday, March 2, 2023   

Colorado's federally qualified community health centers play a major role in the state's economy, according to new analysis.

Health centers serving all patients regardless of their ability to pay contribute at least $1.7 billion in economic activity statewide.

Simon Smith, president and CEO of Clinica Family Health, said the lion's share of their budget goes to paying staff competitive salaries with full benefits.

"We're often a larger employer in a small community, it keeps the dollars right there locally," Smith pointed out. "We know that our staff live in the communities we take care of. They are neighbors, they are family members, they are friends of the patients that we serve. They are shopping at the local grocery store."

Health centers bring significant amounts of federal money back into local economies, largely through Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements. In 2021, health centers also contributed $206 million in state and federal tax revenues. In addition to providing thousands of people a pathway to medical careers, they are frequently the lone health care provider in many rural parts of the state.

Community health centers deliver primary health care to one in seven Coloradans. Using an integrated medical home model, they provide medical, dental, vision, behavioral health care, and substance use disorder services.

Smith noted once patients arrive at the clinic, it's all hands on deck, they do not have to wait or schedule follow-up appointments.

"That's when our patients are available. We know how busy people's lives are, it's never a guarantee that you have child care, or transportation, or time off from work in order to get to the appointment," Smith explained. "Once you get to the appointment, we want to bring all of that care to you."

Safety-net health centers serve a wide range of patients, from professionals with employer-provided insurance to uninsured patients including agricultural workers and people experiencing homelessness. Smith added the nonprofit model, with federal requirements to have actual patients make up over half of a center's volunteer board of directors, has long enjoyed bipartisan support.

"At the end of the day, community health centers provide outstanding care, we do it in a very cost-effective way," Smith emphasized. "And often we're providing care and services in places where there is no other health care access for patients."


get more stories like this via email

more stories
In 1981, the United Nations adopted a resolution encouraging the need for an International Day of Peace. The celebration was observed for the first time in 1982. (ananaline/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

In cities across the globe, including the Michigan city of Midland, various organizations are commemorating International Day of Peace today…


Social Issues

play sound

Georgia's young people could shift the political landscape of the state in the near future. New data from the Brookings Institution indicates that …

Environment

play sound

In rural Alabama, where hurricanes and tornadoes are a constant threat, communities often struggle with damage and limited resources for extended …


Universities across the country are facing declining enrollment and increasing financial challenges. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

A group of West Virginia Democratic delegates is calling for a special session to address West Virginia University's budget shortfall. Del. Evan …

Social Issues

play sound

While many Wyomingites of Hispanic descent came from Mexico, there is a lesser-known population from the old Spanish settlements of northern New …

Social Issues

play sound

This week, feminism passes a milestone of sorts as the iconic publication, Ms. Magazine, looks back on its first fifty years. A new book has just …

Social Issues

play sound

A set of controversial reforms to Illinois' cash bail system went into effect this week, changing a decades-old system of holding people in jail …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021