Community health centers (CHCs) are vital to achieving equitable health care in the U.S. They serve historically marginalized communities and provide comprehensive, culturally competent care to millions of Americans, many of whom are more likely to experience barriers to care.

Health centers served over 31 million patients in 2023, a 9% increase since 2020. In addition, one in eight health center patients are children, and 90% of patients are at or below 200% of the poverty line. As part of their mission, health centers work to address their patients’ social determinants of health, like access to transportation, nutrition services, or housing services. Addressing social determinants ensures that providers focus on all of the factors that influence health, not just what they can evaluate in an exam room.

The Health Center Community Transformation Hub Act (H.R. 1072) is legislation first introduced by Representative Yvette Clarke (D-NY-9) in 2023, with the support of Advocates for Community Health, that authorizes specialized grants to CHCs to implement community transformation hubs. This Act amends the Public Health Service Act permitting the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to award supplemental funds to specific health centers that care for medically underserved populations for addressing primary social determinants of health (i.e., nonmedical factors that influence health outcomes, such as transportation, food security, and economic security).

The bill is cosponsored by Reps. Troy A. Carter (D-LA-02), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY-16), Nanette D. Barragán (D-CA-44), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-At Large), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12), Gwen Moore (D-WI-04), Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), Tony Cardenas (D-CA-12), Bonnie Watson (D-NJ-12), Gwen Moore (D-WI-4), Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), Pramilia Jayapal (D-WA-7), Cori Bush, (D-MO-1), Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51), and Seth Moulton (D-MA-6).

The bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Health by the Committee on Energy and Commerce in 2023.

Your Advocacy Needed to Increase Cosponsors for the Health Center Community Transformation Act

ACH is requesting that health centers and individuals call or email their members of Congress to voice support for the Health Center Community Transformation Hub Act. Please share your story with your member of Congress about why supporting access to equitable health care for all in your community is important.

Talking Points:

The Health Center Community Transformation Hub Act, H.R. 1072 introduced by Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY) will authorize specialized grants to community health centers to implement community transformation hubs, and will:

• Create a supplemental grant program to help community health centers serve as a “hub” among local organizations to address the social determinants of health patients face more effectively.
• Help leverage community resources to allow all people to be healthy.
• Help community health centers anchor a network of community-based organizations that address primary social determinants of health, including access to transportation, food security, economic security, education access and quality, neighborhood safety, and the health of the built environment.
• With a coordinated approach, the Act will increase access to networks of services and support patients need to live healthier lives.

Download a Fact Sheet on the Health Center Community Transformation Hub Act

Thank you for your continued support of policies that help health center patients live healthier lives. Please contact Senior Vice President of Policy & Government Affairs Stephanie Krenrich for questions about this bill or any of ACH’s policy priorities.