The federal government pumped more than $6 billion in basic funding grants last year into 1,375 privately run centers around the country, which provide primary care for more than 30 million mostly low-income people. In 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act provided an additional $6 billion over two years for covid-19 care.
These community health centers must take all patients regardless of their ability to pay, and, in return, they receive annual government grants and higher reimbursement rates from Medicaid and Medicare than private physicians.
Yet a KHN analysis found that a handful of the centers recorded profit margins of 20% or more in at least three of the past four years. Health policy experts said the surpluses alone should not raise concerns if the health centers are planning to use the money for patients.
Read the full story in KFF Health News.
