On August 5, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), released new data showing a record number of health center patients in the 60 years of its program.
In a press release, the HHS announced that over 31 million patients had been served at HRSA-funded health centers in 2023, an increase of 2.7 million, or nine percent, since 2020. “HRSA-funded health centers are required to treat all patients regardless of ability to pay, and in 2023, more than 90 percent of health center patients had incomes less than 200 percent of the 2023 Federal Poverty Guidelines.”
HRSA data indicated that health centers saw 585,000 prenatal care patients in 2023, which is 33,000 additional prenatal care patients, a six percent increase since 2020. Health centers also served 1.1 million school-based service site patients and 454,000 additional school-based service site patients, a 69 percent increase since 2020.
Preventive care, such as cancer screening, also expanded significantly. Since 2020, HRSA concluded, health centers have screened an additional 858,000 additional patients for colorectal cancer, 470,000 additional patients for cervical cancer, and 414,000 patients for breast cancer.
“More than 31 million people across the country - in every U.S. state, territory, and the District of Columbia - depend on health centers, making them a vital resource,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra in a statement.
“HRSA-funded community health centers make it possible for anyone in the community to access high-quality primary health care, regardless of income,” said HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson in a statement.
