Is in the works for community health centers as a result of the new federal health care reform legislation. Beginning in 2011, some $11 billion is earmarked over five years for new funding for community health centers, most of which is intended to help them expand their operations to serve nearly 20 million new patients nationwide.

In Arizona, federally-qualified health centers and community health centers operate in over 100 locations and share a core mission of improving the health of individuals and families who need primary care services but may not have the financial resources or health insurance to pay for them. As we noted in our recent Goodbye, Hello report on the future of primary care, Arizona community health centers are innovators in linking behavioral and primary care services, and have been early adopters of team-based, coordinated and integrated care.

Both the Bush and Obama administrations saw the wisdom of investing in community health centers. We agree with this bipartisan conclusion: Invest in community health centers. It’s good for health, good for business, and most of all, good for the entire community.