Community Health Centers
Also known as Health Centers or Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC)  |
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At Issue
As of 2006, there were about 1,900 dentists practicing in Community Health Centers (CHCs) which are partially funded by federal grants (called section 330 grants). While CHCs play a crucial role as safety net providers for underserved populations throughout the country, CHC dentists and their staff cannot meet the oral health needs of the underserved populations alone, as they are less than two percent of all practicing dentists in the United States. Also, the statutory mandate of section 330 funded facilities requires them to see all individuals regardless of their ability to pay, further straining resources.
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ADA Priorities
- The ADA works with a number of stakeholders to improve access to oral health care services and to help ensure that all Americans have access to quality oral health care, including recognition of the important role of CHCs as safety net providers for underserved populations in America.
- The ADA participates in a coalition with the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) and others to ensure that adequate attention is paid to access issues and funding programs, such as Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
- The ADA which represents over 71 percent of all practicing dentists encourages its member dentists in both the private sector and within the CHC community to develop collaborative working relationships at the local level to facilitate the delivery of quality dental services to CHC patients through a variety of mechanisms, including volunteerism, helping to fill vacancies in health centers, contractual agreements between health centers and private practice dentists, case management and referrals.
- The ADA works with the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the Department of Health and Human Services, the agency with jurisdiction over the section 330 funding program, on an ongoing basis to ensure that opportunities for cooperation between private practitioners and CHC practitioners are maximized.
- The ADA annually attends and participates in HRSA's National Primary Oral Health Care Conference which provides continuing education opportunities for CHC dentists.
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Contact Us
For additional information, please contact:
- Tom Spangler, Director, Legislative & Regulatory Policy, Federal Affairs
Federal Affairs
1111 14th Street NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20005
202-898-2400
Fax: 202-898-2437
E-mail: govtpol@ada.org
State Government Affairs
ADA Chicago Headquarters
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
312-440-2525
Fax: 312-440-3539
E-mail: govtpol@ada.org
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