Community Health Center Essentials: Delivering Primary Care and Health Equity for All

Presented by NACHC Community Health Centers (CHCs) are the backbone of the US health care system, providing primary care to 1 in 10 people across the United States, US territories, and US Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI). Access to primary care is essential for a healthy population; primary care is the only health care discipline where improved access to care is associated with improved population health. Access to primary care is also essential for advancing health equity, and CHCs are the largest (and perhaps only) primary care delivery system focused on delivering care to populations facing health disparities based on race, ethnicity, income, or geography. This session will feature experts on health centers, primary care, and health equity describing the current landscape and the essential role of health centers in the future of primary care and health equity. Panelists will also discuss the intersections of primary care with industry and innovation, and how working with community health centers can advance access. Speakers: Speakers Kyu Rhee, MD, President and CEO, National Association of Community Health Centers Ben Harvey, CEO, Indiana Primary Care Association Julia Liou, CEO, Asian Health Services (CA) Faith Polkey, MD, CEO, Beaufort Jasper Hampton Comprehensive Health Services (SC) Andrew Hamilton, CMIO, AllianceChicago