Now Available: Brief on Medical Homes & Childhood Asthma
August 4, 2010
In advance of the final rule regarding the implementation of medical homes within the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), researchers at The George Washington University (GWU), Department of Health Policy have identified major opportunities to advance high-quality, cost-efficient health care for children with asthma through medical homes. A new brief, supported by the Merck Childhood Asthma Network and RCHN CHF, “The Affordable Care Act, Medical Homes and Childhood Asthma: A Key Opportunity for Progress,” focuses on how the medical home model facilitates comprehensive, patient-centered care by fostering partnerships between and amongst patients, primary care doctors including pediatricians, specialists and emergency and other services.

Health Reform’s Investment in Community Health Centers Will Pay Off By Reducing Overall Medical Costs by More than $180 Billion and Raising Primary Care Capacity
June 30, 2010
WASHINGTON and NEW YORK – Two of the pressing challenges facing the nation with the enactment of health care reform are whether the U.S. will have enough primary care providers and whether health care costs can be contained. A new analysis released by the Geiger Gibson/ RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, indicates that the expansion of community health centers will make a major contribution towards addressing both problems.

Investment in Health Centers Will Save Billions
June 30, 2010
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued a news release in conjunction with the press briefing he sponsored to announce the Collaborative’s report, Strengthening Primary Care to Bend the Cost Curve: The Expansion of Community Health Centers Through Health Reform.

Capitol Hill Briefing: The Expansion of Health Centers Through Health Reform
June 28, 2010
The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) issued a release to announce the Capitol Hill briefing held June 30 to present the Collaborative’s report, Strengthening Primary Care to Bend the Cost Curve: The Expansion of Community Health Centers Through Health Reform, focusing on the impact of community health center expansion on health care access and long-term health care costs.

Up to 85 Percent of Health Center Users Experience Unmet Legal Needs Community Based Medical-Legal Partnerships Effective in Addressing Issues, Saving Dollars
May 4, 2010
Washington, D.C. and New York – Each year, between 50 and 85 percent of health center patients - or between ten and seventeen million people - experience unmet legal needs, many of which negatively impact their health, according to a new study from the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. This number is likely to increase given the profound changes in eligibility, plan enrollment, provider selection, and service delivery embodied in the newly enacted health reform law. Though the consequences of complex social problems and associated health disparities - such as substandard housing and environmental conditions - can be treated medically, their causes are social and are often more successfully remedied through legal, rather than medical channels.

Startling New Childhood Asthma Data: New Findings Show that More than 1 Million Children with Asthma Remain Uninsured and at Risk for Inadequate Care
February 23, 2010
WASHINGTON D.C. – Researchers from The George Washington University, School of Public Health and Health Services (GW) said today that asthma, a largely manageable and chronic disease, is on the rise in America and released new data on the magnitude of the asthma crisis, the surging cost of treatment, and the more than 1 million children with asthma who are uninsured. A new report from GW, Changing pO2licy: The Elements for Improving Childhood Asthma Outcomes, found that asthma adds about 50 cents to every health care dollar spent on children with asthma compared to children without asthma. Those most at risk – low income, medically underserved, and African-American and Hispanic children – have the least access to preventive care and the most visits to the ER. The report was supported by the RCHN Community Health Foundation and the Merck Childhood Asthma Network, Inc.

On the First Anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act New Report Finds Investment in Health Centers Yields Major Returns
February 16, 2010
WASHINGTON and NEW YORK - A new report projects that federal investment in health centers under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) will generate $3.2 billion dollars in economic activity -- an estimated return on investment of nearly $2 for every $1 spent. The report was issued by the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, Department of Health Policy. Support for this analysis was provided by the RCHN Community Health Foundation and United Health Foundation.

Using Primary Care to Bend the Cost Curve: The Potential Impact of Health Centers
October 14, 2009
WASHINGTON and NEW YORK - An analysis of provisions to expand health insurance coverage now under consideration in the Senate has been released by The Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. "Using Primary Care to Bend the Cost Curve: The Potential Impact of Health Center Expansion in Senate Reforms" supplements earlier analyses of the impact of Medicaid expansions and increased federal funding for community health centers under consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Legislation to Expand Medicaid Will Generate Revenue for Cash-Strapped States; Every Dollar Invested in Medicaid Helps Generate Two to Six Dollars in New Business Activities
October 7, 2009
WASHINGTON and NEW YORK - A new study from the Geiger Gibson RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative, Estimating the Economic Gains for States as a Result of Medicaid Coverage Expansions for Adults, finds that the Medicaid expansions under consideration in Congress not only will improve the health and well-being of previously uninsured individuals and families but also will generate significant economic returns in new business activities, jobs, salaries, and wages. The report concludes that the rate of return is between two and six dollars for every dollar invested.

Increasing Health Center Capacity by 20 Million Patients Could Save More Than $200 Billion Over the Next Decade; Medicaid Savings Could Surpass $59 Billion
September 1, 2009
WASHINGTON and NEW YORK – Expanding health centers to reach an additional 20 million patients as part of national health reform would result in overall health care savings of $212 billion over the ten-year period 2010 to 2019, including federal Medicaid savings of $59 billion. The dollar value of these expected savings far exceeds the cost of the health center investment of $38.8 billion called for in the July 14 version of the House health reform bill. These findings are contained in a new study entitled “Using Primary Care to Bend the Curve: Estimating the Impact of a Health Center Expansion on Health Care Costs,” conducted by faculty and staff at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services and funded through the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative.

Investment in Community Health Centers Can Save States Millions of Dollars; Lower Medical Costs Resulted in Savings of $473 Million for Indiana’s Health Care System
July 29, 2009
Investment in community-based health centers could save states millions of dollars a year, according to a new study “Community Health Centers in Indiana: State Investments and Returns” conducted by faculty and staff at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services.  

New Report Finds Health Reform Could More Than Double Health Center Capacity; Adequate Payment Rates by Exchange Health Plans Would Expand Health Centers’ Reach by Millions
July 23, 2009
WASHINGTON and NEW YORK - A new research brief from The George Washington University Department of Health Policy, supported by the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative, examines the effects of the draft House Tri-Committee (Energy and Commerce, Education and Labor and Ways and Means Committees) health reform bill on the capacity of community health centers to provide primary health care services to needy patients, including the newly insured and the millions who will remain uninsured.

New Report Examines How National Health Reform May Affect the More than 96 Million Residents of America's Medically Underserved Communities
July 9, 2009
WASHINGTON and NEW YORK - A new Research Brief from the GW Department of Health Policy, supported by the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative, examines the potential effects of national health reform on the nation's 96.2 million residents of urban and rural medically underserved communities.

CySolutions Acquires Chorus from RCHN Community Health Foundation
July 7, 2009
NEW YORK and SOUTHLAKE, TX – The RCHN Community Health Foundation (RCHN CHF) and CySolutions, Inc. today announced that CySolutions has acquired Chorus, a health care information technology firm that provides integrated software solutions and services for community health centers (CHCs). CySolutions is a leader in the development and support of custom software enhancement for community health centers and other providers.

An Estimated 45,000 Physicians Qualify for Medicaid HIT Adoption Incentive Payments under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), New Study Finds
July 7, 2009
WASHINGTON and NEW YORK – About 45,000 office-based physicians, including nearly all physicians who practice at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and half of office-based pediatricians, may be eligible for up to $63,750 over six years to improve and maintain their health information technology (HIT) systems because of their participation in Medicaid, according to a new analysis by GW researchers funded through the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative.

Puerto Rico’s Community Health Center Program Crippled by Underfunding: Immediate Investment Required to Restore Centers’ Capacity to Care for Thousands, Achieve Cost Savings
April 22, 2009
WASHINGTON and NEW YORK – Chronic underfunding and exposure to significant levels of financial risk is jeopardizing the health care safety net in Puerto Rico, particularly the fiscal viability of community health centers, according to a new report conducted by GW faculty at the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative.

New Research Reveals Community Health Centers Caring for More Patients in Wake of Massachusetts Health Reform: Findings Underscore Need for More Robust Primary Care Safety Net
March 24, 2009
WASHINGTON and NEW YORK – Community health centers in Massachusetts saw a significant increase in their patient load from 2005 to 2007 as that state began implementing its health reform law. In addition, the proportion of the state’s uninsured served at community health centers increased. These findings demonstrate the importance of community health centers and the continuing need for a robust primary care safety net, according to a new report.

The United Health Foundation commits major grant to the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative at GWU
February 23, 2009
WASHINGTON — The United Health Foundation has committed $100,000 to the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services. The grant will be used to implement a special study to monitor and evaluate use of the more than $2 billion in special multi-phase stimulus funding awarded to community health centers under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

Read more about United Health Foundation investments in community health centers and support for effective use and measurement of CHC stimulus funds .

Restoring Medicaid and SCHIP Coverage to Legal Immigrant Children and Pregnant Women: Implications for Community Health and Health Care for Tomorrow’s Citizens
January 13, 2009
WASHINGTON — Restoring access to Medicaid and SCHIP coverage for legally-admitted immigrants - some of the nation’s most vulnerable children and pregnant women - is imperative and the current SCHIP reauthorization debate represents an opportunity to restore these critical services, according to a new analysis issued by the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services (GW/SPHHS).

75 Percent of Community Health Centers Report that Patients Experience Barriers to Care As a Result of Citizenship Documentation Requirements
October 21, 2008
Children enrolled in State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP) are experiencing enrollment delays, disruptions and denials

WASHINGTON — Medicaid documentation requirements enacted by Congress in 2006 continue to present serious, ongoing problems for health centers and their patients, according to a new analysis issued by the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services (GW/SPHHS).

New Analysis Examines More than 700 Public Comments Related to Proposed HHS Rules to Narrow the Definition of Medical Underservice
September 3, 2008
WASHINGTON — A new analysis released today by the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services provides an in-depth examination of public comments submitted in response to a proposed rule to narrow the federal definition of medical underservice.

Uninsured and Medicaid Patients More Likely to Receive Preventive Care in Community Health Centers
August 13, 2008
WASHINGTON - Despite having a more vulnerable patient mix, community health centers (CHC) out-perform other primary care providers in the use of preventive care by both Medicaid and uninsured patients. A new study by the Collaborative observes differences of as much as 22 percent between the receipt of preventive care in CHC and non-CHC settings.

Department of Health and Human Services Withdraws Proposed Federal Rule that Threatened Health Center Funding
July 24, 2008
WASHINGTON — The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) yesterday withdrew a proposed rule on the designation of Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) and Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) that threatened to disrupt health center funding and jeopardize health care for poor and underserved populations across the nation.

RCHN CHF Sponsors National Health IT Week
June 2, 2008
RCHN Community Health Foundation (RCHN CHF) announced today its sponsorship of National Health IT Week, June 9-13, 2008.

Proposed Federal Regulations Threaten Health Centers in Thousands of Communities
April 14, 2008
A proposed federal rule could disrupt health center funding and jeopardize health care for millions of poor and underserved populations across the nation.

$250 Million Investment in Community Health Centers Would Yield Health Care for 1.8 Million More Patients Nationwide
February 25, 2008
Inaugurating its new research brief series on health centers and health policy, the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services estimates that a $250 million appropriations increase in the community health centers program would yield health care for an additional 1.8 million patients and a nationwide four-to-one return on investment.

Commercial Insurers’ Reimbursement Rate to New York’s Community Health Centers Jeopardizes Care
October 1, 2007
Inadequate reimbursement rates from private insurers threaten the future of many of New York State’s community health centers (CHCs) and their ability to continue serving all patients, concludes a new study released by the Community Health Care Association of New York State (CHCANYS), and funded by CHCANYS and the RCHN Community Health Foundation. CHCs receive significantly lower reimbursement rates from private insurers compared with those from public payers including Medicaid and Medicare. Commercial reimbursement rates are far below the actual costs of care.

Community Health Centers Reveal Specific Ramifications of The Medicaid Citizenship and Identification Documentation Requirements
September 24, 2007
The details that emerged as part of the research, which is supported by the RCHN Community Health Foundation, illustrate the major and measurable impact the rules are having on access to care and health centers’ operations. Patients, particularly children and citizens, are facing barriers to continued service, and centers are experiencing the financial fallout.

As Many as 319,000 Community Health Center Patients, Including More than 212,000 Children, Expected to Lose Medicaid Coverage as a Result of Medicaid Documentation Requirements
May 6, 2007

President and CEO of RCHN Community Health Foundation Receives Prestigious Award for Service
March 21, 2007

RCHN Community Health Foundation to Present $2 Million Gift to The George Washington University
March 19, 2007