As many have discovered in recent years, having a
health insurance card alone does not guarantee that people will have a place to go to get the
health care services they need.
Community Health Centers like Columbia Basin Health Association (CBHA)
have been the solution to that problem for millions of Americans for nearly
50 years. Located in communities all over the country, Community Health
Centers provide doctors and other health professionals where they are
most needed. The better proximity and quality of care has greatly improved
health outcomes in the communities served.
America’s Health Centers owe their existence to a remarkable turn
of events in U.S. history, and to many determined community health and
civil rights activists who fought more than 50 years ago to improve the
lives of Americans living in medically underserved communities in desperate
need of healthcare.
WHO DO THEY SERVE?
According to the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC),
more than 62 million Americans lack access to primary care because of
a variety of factors, including long distances from health care facilities,
affordability of care and a shortage of available doctors and other providers.
People from all walks of life are affected. Nearly half (42%) are lowincome
and 28% live in rural communities.
A large majority of the people without access to primary care have insurance
but have few or no options in terms of where they can get care. Health
experts predict the problem will escalate as fewer providers choose careers
in primary care; demand is expected to climb by as much as 14 percent.
Nationwide, health centers serve more than 23 million patients -- that’s
one in 15 people living in the U.S., including more than 260,000 veterans.
We’re here to help close that gap.
At CBHA, we are open to all, regardless of ability to pay. Our doors are open at 7 a.m., Monday through Friday, with a range of services
that include not just primary care, but dental care, mental health, optical
care, imaging, audiology, and an in-house pharmacy. By making care more
accessible and easier to navigate, we not only improve our patients'
wellbeing, but also reduce unnecessary visits to hospital emergency rooms,
saving money without adding to the nation’s health care costs and
overall debt.
Demand for primary care is rising, and there is universal recognition of
the need to reduce healthcare costs. Health centers like ours are part
of the solution. Aided in small part by federal investments, health centers
have expanded capacity to serve more people and communities, while reducing
costs and saving the system billions every year.
HOW IS CBHA FUNDED?
Originally, the funds to operate health centers like CBHA came from federal
and state subsidies. Today, the majority of our funds come from patients’
insurance companies. Federal grants now account for a total of no more
than 16 percent of total revenue, with only four additional percent from
other grant sources.
DO CBHA CLINICS AFFECT MY TAXES?
It has no impact; nothing has changed. CBHA receives funding from insurance
reimbursement, and only a small portion of government funding grants.
Your local property taxes do not contribute to CBHA. When you receive
your property tax statement for 2017, review the back to see a breakout
of local property tax expenditures.
You will see that your local property tax contributions are divided between
these entities:
• City of Othello
• Othello Current Expense
• EMS
• Hospital
• Library
• Local Schools
• Other Junior Taxing Districts
• Parks-Rec-District, Port District
• State Schools