Study: FQHCs treating more patients, chronic conditions
Use of nonprofit community clinics and health centers is increasing, and these facilities are seeing more uninsured patients and more chronic conditions, according to a report from Direct Relief.
More than 8,000 community-based facilities in the U.S. provided services to more than 21 million people in 2009, the report stated. Of those 21 million patients, approximately 38 percent lack health insurance and 71 percent have incomes of less than $22,000 a year for a family of four, according to the report titled “State of the Safety Net.”
Direct Relief, a nonprofit medical relief organization based in Santa Barbara, Calif., summarized national information about the activities at America's nonprofit community-based clinics and health centers from 2006 to 2009.
Fifty million people lack health insurance and 53 million people rely on Medicaid, according to the report. “A clear trend in the data is the [increase] in proportion of patients using Medicaid for their coverage. A large portion of patients attending federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) use Medicaid relative to other forms of insurance (37.1 percent).”
The number of people treated at FQHCs grew from 15 million to 18.7 million between 2006 and 2009, the report stated. “It should be said that the growth in total numbers of patients has been accompanied with growth in the number of clinic sites. In 2006 there were 1,002 FQHC grantees; in 2009 there were 1,131.”
The demand for services is accelerating, the report noted. “In addition to an aggregate increase, the rate of increase of those seeking care at FQHCs was larger from 2008 to 2009 than in previous years." During that time, the increase in patients was project to be 1.1 million. However, 470,000 more people were seen at FQHCs.
In 2009, more than 7 million patients who received care in FQHCs lacked health insurance, and the number of uninsured patients is increasing, the report found.
Patients receiving care in these facilities are being treated in growing numbers for chronic conditions, particularly diabetes and hypertension, the report stated.
The findings were derived from a review of federally audited data from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) related to FQHCs as well as surveys of more than 1,000 clinics and health centers in all 50 states that participate in Direct Relief USA's program.
More than 8,000 community-based facilities in the U.S. provided services to more than 21 million people in 2009, the report stated. Of those 21 million patients, approximately 38 percent lack health insurance and 71 percent have incomes of less than $22,000 a year for a family of four, according to the report titled “State of the Safety Net.”
Direct Relief, a nonprofit medical relief organization based in Santa Barbara, Calif., summarized national information about the activities at America's nonprofit community-based clinics and health centers from 2006 to 2009.
Fifty million people lack health insurance and 53 million people rely on Medicaid, according to the report. “A clear trend in the data is the [increase] in proportion of patients using Medicaid for their coverage. A large portion of patients attending federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) use Medicaid relative to other forms of insurance (37.1 percent).”
The number of people treated at FQHCs grew from 15 million to 18.7 million between 2006 and 2009, the report stated. “It should be said that the growth in total numbers of patients has been accompanied with growth in the number of clinic sites. In 2006 there were 1,002 FQHC grantees; in 2009 there were 1,131.”
The demand for services is accelerating, the report noted. “In addition to an aggregate increase, the rate of increase of those seeking care at FQHCs was larger from 2008 to 2009 than in previous years." During that time, the increase in patients was project to be 1.1 million. However, 470,000 more people were seen at FQHCs.
In 2009, more than 7 million patients who received care in FQHCs lacked health insurance, and the number of uninsured patients is increasing, the report found.
Patients receiving care in these facilities are being treated in growing numbers for chronic conditions, particularly diabetes and hypertension, the report stated.
The findings were derived from a review of federally audited data from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) related to FQHCs as well as surveys of more than 1,000 clinics and health centers in all 50 states that participate in Direct Relief USA's program.