1. The Stability of NC’s Primary Care Safety Net
Depends on Continued Federal Support
2017 Policy Brief: The Health Center Funding Cliff
Over the past decade Congressional leadership from both parties has recognized the cost-effective care Federally Qualified Health Centers (also known as Community Health Centers) provide locally in communities across the country.
George W. Bush doubled the Community Health Center program during his administration.
Congress invested in expanding health centers to meet the demand for primary and prevent care through the Affordable care Act from FY 2011-FY2015.
In 2015, Congress showed its continued commitment to the health center program by maintaining mandatory funding through the Medicare and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA).
Unless further action is taken, that mandatory funding of $3.6 billion is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2017.
Today, the Community Health Centers Program faces a 70% loss of federal funding equal to $3.6 Billion. (see Table 1)
In North Carolina, that would mean more than 20% of patients lose access to care.
Estimated North Carolina Impacts of FY 2017 Health Center Funding Cliff:
A loss of $69 million in federal funding to North Carolina Community Health Centers
More than 20% reduction in the number of patients we could serve – more than 100,0000 patients will lose access to care.
More than 1,000 jobs lost at community health centers in North Carolina
Potential loss of additional private funding because CHCs use federal funds to leverage funding from other sources.
Background on NC Federally Qualified Health Centers
North Carolina’s Federally Qualified Health Centers (also known as community health centers, or CHCs) are private, nonprofit, community-based organizations that provide primary care – regardless of ability to pay – to 483,000 patients. Community health centers are led by majority consumer boards, serve medically underserved populations, and address the needs of their local communities. Sixty-nine percent of North Carolina CHC patients earn less than 200% of the federal poverty guidelines ($23,540 for an individual) and 41% are uninsured. In addition to the uninsured, they serve Medicaid (26%), Medicare (13%), private pay patients (15%).
NC Community Health Center Association | (919) | | Updated January 2016

2. 2017 North Carolina Health Centers by County
Alamance | Piedmont Health Services
Hyde | Ocracoke Health Center
Alleghany | AppHealthCare
Iredell | Gaston Family Health Services
Anson | Anson Regional Medical Services
Jackson | Appalachian Mountain Health Center
Ashe | AppHealthCare
Johnston | CommWell Health
Avery | High Country Community Health
Jones | Goshen Medical Center
Beaufort | Metropolitan Community Health Services
Lenoir | Kinston Community Health Center
Bertie | Bertie County Rural Health Association | Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center
Lincoln | Gaston Family Health Services
Macon | Appalachian Mountain Health Center
Bladen | CommWell Health
Madison | Hot Springs Health Program
Brunswick | CommWell Health
Mecklenburg | C.W. Williams Community Health Center
Buncombe | Western NC Community Health Services
Mitchell | Bakersville Community Medical Clinic
Cabarrus | Cabarrus Rowan Community Health Centers
Montgomery | Robeson Health Care Corporation
Caldwell | West Caldwell Health Council
Nash | Carolina Family Health Centers
Caswell | Caswell Family Medical Center | Piedmont Health Services
New Hanover | MedNorth Health Center
Northampton | Rural Health Group
Catawba | Gaston Family Health Services
Onslow | Goshen Medical Center
Chatham | Piedmont Health Services
Orange | Piedmont Health Services
Cherokee | Appalachian Mountain Health Center
Pamlico | Greene County Health Care
Chowan | Gateway Community Health Centers
Pasquotank | Gateway Community Health Centers
Columbus | Goshen Medical Center | Robeson Health Care Corporation
Pender | CommWell Health
Person | Person Family Medical Center
Craven | Goshen Medical Center
Polk | Blue Ridge Community Health Services
Cumberland | Stedman-Wade Health Services
Pitt | Greene County Health Care
Davidson| Gaston Family Health Services
Randolph | Randolph Family Health Care at MERCE
Duplin | Goshen Medical Center
Richmond | Anson Regional Medical Services
Durham | Lincoln Community Health Center
Robeson | Robeson Health Care Corporation
Edgecombe | Carolina Family Health Centers| OIC Family Medical Center | Rural Health Group
Rockingham | Triad Adult and Pediatric Medicine
Rowan | Cabarrus Rowan Community Health Centers
Forsyth | Southside United Health and Wellness Center
Rutherford | Blue Ridge Community Health Services
Franklin | Wake Health Services
Sampson | CommWell Health | Goshen Medical Center
Gaston | Gaston Family Health Services
Scotland | Robeson Health Care Corporation
Gates | Gateway Community Health Centers
Transylvania | Blue Ridge Community Health Services
Graham | Appalachian Mountain Health Center
Union | Anson Regional Medical Services
Greene | Greene County Health Care
Vance | Rural Health Group
Guilford | Triad Adult and Pediatric Medicine
Wake | Wake Health Services
Halifax | Rural Health Group
Warren | Rural Health Group
Harnett | First Choice Community Health Center
Washington | Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center
Haywood | Appalachian Mountain Health Center
Watauga | High Country Community Health
Henderson | Blue Ridge Community Health Services
Wayne | Goshen Medical Center
Hertford | Roanoke Chowan Community Health Center
Wilkes | Wilkes County Health Department
Hoke | Community Health Interventions & Sickle Cell Agency
Wilson | Carolina Family Health Centers
For a complete listing of NC CHC sites and services please visit
FQHC Look- Alike
North Carolina Community Health Center Association | |