Rachel Hersh is the CEO of La Red Health Center.
This Aug. 3-9, during National Health Center Week, citizens across the country are coming together to recognize a true American success story: community health centers. These locally driven health care providers serve more than 32.5 million people and stand as a testament to what works when it comes to health care, delivering high-quality service, improving outcomes and reducing cost for the system as a whole.
For decades, leaders from both sides of the aisle have supported health centers because they solve real problems. In underserved communities — rural, urban and everything in between — CHCs ensure that individuals and families can access timely care, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.
At La Red Health Center, we proudly serve nearly 13,500 people in Sussex County with primary care, behavioral health, dental services, pediatric care and more. We are not just health care providers; we are problem-solvers, neighbors and innovators. We address the full range of what affects someone’s well-being, from chronic conditions to social factors like housing, nutrition, employment and mental wellness.
Health centers like ours are deeply embedded in the communities we serve. That means we can respond to local needs quickly; partner effectively with schools, employers, law enforcement and churches; and deliver care in a way that reflects the values and strengths of the people who live here.
But, this year, health centers across the nation are facing serious uncertainty. A combination of policy changes and funding shifts is putting pressure on our ability to deliver care at current levels.
For example, recently enacted legislation has introduced financial challenges that could result in increased uncompensated care, particularly in areas like ours, where many residents fall into insurance coverage gaps.
In Delaware, the state’s three federally qualified health centers, La Red among them, already carry $7.6 million in uncompensated care each year. As coverage rules change and costs rise, that number could grow, forcing health centers to make difficult decisions.
At La Red, we do not turn patients away. But the growing financial strain could impact staffing, hours of operation and long-term sustainability, not just here but at CHCs across the country.
National estimates show that, without stable federal investment, thousands of jobs could be lost, and patients could lose access to lifesaving preventive care.
We are deeply grateful that Sens. Chris Coons and Lisa Blunt Rochester, plus Rep. Sarah McBride, all D-Del., have shown leadership in advocating for continued support of health centers.
We also appreciate efforts by the federal government to streamline regulations and invest in programs that promote patient access and health care innovation. Continued collaboration between federal agencies and local providers will be key to ensuring that community health centers can keep doing what we do best: deliver smart, effective care that keeps people healthy and communities strong.
You can show your support during National Health Center Week by becoming a patient, volunteering or donating to your local facility. You can also contact your elected officials, at the state and federal levels, and let them know that you support continued investment in community-based health care.
At La Red Health Center, we’ll be here, providing care, solving problems and showing up for our community — because we believe that everyone, everywhere, deserves a chance at wellness.
Visit laredhealthcenter.org to learn more or to support our work.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
