Advocates for Community Health issued the following statement in response to the launch of the Rural Health Transformation Program and its related Notice of Funding Opportunity on September 15th:

Congress created the Rural Health Transformation Program to bring innovation and stability to the rural communities that need it most. Community health centers (CHCs) are the clearest example of this mission in action. With decades of experience delivering affordable, accountable, and high-quality care, health centers are already driving the very outcomes this initiative seeks to expand.

With the application for this new program released this week, ensuring health centers have access to these resources is vital. With the right support, they can build on their strong foundation to further strengthen rural communities – by growing the health care workforce, advancing value-based care, and tackling the chronic disease epidemic. As adaptable and forward-looking partners, health centers stand ready to work with federal and state leaders to deliver lasting, sustainable improvements through the Rural Health Transformation Program.

CHCs provide comprehensive, patient-centered primary care regardless of ability to pay, including services such as checkups, dental and behavioral health, maternal care, and telehealth. They are also an anchor of the rural health care ecosystem. In 2024, nearly 34 million people received care at a health center—and nearly one in three lived in rural America.