1. Addressing Health Disparities: A Local Solution to a National Problem Presentation to Academy Health 2008 Disparity Workshop By: Rachel A. Gonzales-Hanson Community Health Development, Inc. Uvalde, Texas

2. America’s Health Centers Over 45 Year Track Record: Providing Primary Health Care to “Medically Underserved” in a “Culturally-Appropriate” Manner = Addressing Health Disparities

3. America’s Health Centers  Racial and Ethnic Minorities Make- up 2/3 of all Health Center Patients  Health Center Patients are Generally More Likely to have a Chronic Illness than Patients of Office-Based Physicians

4. Health Centers Reduce Disparities in Access to Mammograms % of Women 40+ and <200% FPL Receiving Mammograms Source: Leiyu Shi, “The Role Of Health Centers In Improving Health Care Access, Quality, And Outcome For The Nation's Uninsured.” Testimony At Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Congressional Hearing “A Review Of Community Health Centers: Issues And Opportunities.” Washington, DC. May 25, 2005. Based on Community Health Center User Survey, 2002; and National Health Interview Survey, 2002.

5. Health Centers Also Reduce Disparities in Access to Pap Tests % of Women 18+ and <200% FPL Receiving Pap Smears in Last 3 Years Source: Leiyu Shi, “The Role Of Health Centers In Improving Health Care Access, Quality, And Outcome For The Nation's Uninsured.” Testimony At Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Congressional Hearing “A Review Of Community Health Centers: Issues And Opportunities.” Washington, DC. May 25, 2005. Based on Community Health Center User Survey, 2002; and National Health Interview Survey, 2002. Health People 2010 Target (70%)

6. America’s Health Centers Key stakeholder - the patient! It’s not enough to talk about “coverage”. The discussion must also include “how” care will be delivered.

7. America’s Health Centers  When you’ve seen one Health Center, you’ve see ONE Health Center  “Culture” refers to more than “ethnicity”  It’s about “Process” and “Outcomes”

8. America’s Health Centers Moving forward we need:  Policies that make sense - One size does not fit all  A stable health care workforce  To maintain and expand insurance coverage  To Preserve/Strengthen the Community-Based Model

9. America’s Health Centers Factors of our Success: ♦ Multi-Disciplined, Comprehensive, and Integrated Model ♦ Chronic Care Model ♦ Promotora Program

10. America’s Health Centers Looking for the “new frontier” for research? Community Health Centers!

11. America’s Health Centers Sharing a few stories…

12. America’s Health Centers Gracias! Thank You!