The History of the National Association of Community Health Centers
Founded in 1971 by like-minded health care provider and community activists, NACHC was created to protect and nurture the potential of a strong national voice dedicated to providing access to quality health care for medically underserved people and communities all across America. We are proud that more than 50 years later our mission has not only survived – but thrived.
The first Community Health Centers (originally called Neighborhood Health Centers) were funded as a demonstration project under the Federal Office of Economic Opportunity, the lead federal agency in President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty.
These health centers empowered local communities through patient-majority governing boards to direct health services through a combination of local resources and federal funding.
The National Association of Neighborhood Health Centers (only later did we become NACHC, the National Association of Community Health Centers) was founded by executives of the OEO-funded Neighborhood Health Centers.
NACHC emerged to give health centers a collective voice
In 1977, after a successful battle waged led by NACHC and our members, Congress authorized the Community Health Centers program for the first time as a permanent program, after 10 years as a demonstration effort, under Section 330 of the U.S. Public Health Service Act (first under OEO and later under the U.S. Department of Health Education and Welfare).
The Migrant Health program is also reauthorized as Sec 329 in S. 66 (Public Law 94-63), but only after House and Senate each override President Gerald Ford’s veto (requiring 2/3 vote in each chamber). President Jimmy Carter subsequently calls for major expansion of health centers, including the “Rural Health Initiative,” more than doubling program funding over four years.
Defending health centers from challenges
In the 1980s, NACHC helped health centers survive the greatest threat in their brief history when lawmakers sought to roll back programs established as part of the War on Poverty. They proposed turning the Community and Migrant Health Center programs into block grants, handing control of the programs to individual states. NACHC and our members successfully fought the proposal.
As the country faced an economic downturn in 1982-83, NACHC led the effort to secure $65 million in Jobs Bill funding, equal to 20% of current annual health center funding. NACHC was also instrumental in Congress allocating federal funding to support the development of State and Regional Primary Care Associations (S/RPCAs).
Advocacy leads to $1 billion in health center funding
Around 2000, NACHC and our members introduced the REACH initiative – a proposal to double health center funding over 5 years. The initiative garnered support on both sides of the aisle. Both Republican and Democratic candidates for president endorse a call to expand the health center program. Federal funding for health centers surpasses $1 billion.
Building the health center movement for the future
As the health center movement grew, so did NACHC. In addition to advocating for stable funding and equitable policies, our mission to strengthen the health center movement expanded to include a robust training and technical assistance program.
The nation’s health centers now serve nearly 1 in 10 people, cementing health centers’ role as the largest primary care network. Today there is recognition, as never before, of the value and need for a patient-governed system of primary care anchored in communities to improve health – protect communities – and address longstanding health inequities.
NACHC is committed to providing the training, resources, and advocacy to support this system. We will continue to leverage our collective voice on issues impacting the health and lives of our 30 million patients. We will continue to grow in resources and partnership to spur initiatives and innovation in health care delivery. We have strengthened trainings and support services to help all of our health centers succeed. We know there is more we can and must do to improve the health of the nation’s communities. We stand ready to lead and to build on our proud 50-year legacy as we advance the Health Center Mission and preserve, strengthen and expand the health center foundation.
