2025 House Resolution 146

Whereas, For nearly 60 years, community health centers have provided high-quality, affordable, comprehensive primary and preventive health care in our nation’s medically underserved communities, delivering value to, and, having a significant impact on America’s health care; and

Whereas, As the country’s largest primary care network, community health centers are the health care home for over 32.5 million Americans in over 16,000 communities across the country. One in every ten people in the United States gets their care at a community health center; and

Whereas, Community health centers are the health care home for over 675,000 Michiganders being served through over 450 sites in every corner of the state, providing over 2.6 million visits in 2023. One in every fifteen Michigan residents get their care at a community health center; and

Whereas, Community health centers play a large role in the nation’s health system, finding unique ways to address the health care needs in Michigan’s diverse rural, suburban, and urban populations, providing another accessible and dependable source of primary care in their communities; and

Whereas, Community health centers are responding to the chronic diseases by expanding access to primary care, which keeps Americans healthy and out of expensive health care settings like a hospital or emergency room; and

Whereas, Michigan’s community health centers provided more than 67,500 well-child visits in 2023 and operated over 180 school-based sites; and

Whereas, Community health centers develop new approaches to integrating a wide range of services beyond primary care, including oral health, vision, behavioral health, nutrition, and pharmacy services, to provide comprehensive care, allowing each patient to thrive. Health centers have more than doubled their behavioral health workforce in the last decade to meet Americans’ growing need for behavioral health service; and

Whereas, Community health centers are locally owned and operated nonprofit entities in Michigan that generate $1.7 billion in economic impact for the state while supporting over 11,000 jobs directly and indirectly for Michiganders including physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, licensed family therapists, and certified nurse-midwives who work as part of multi-disciplinary clinical teams designed to treat the whole patient; and

Whereas, Community health centers are governed by patient-majority boards, ensuring patients are engaged in their health care decisions; and

Whereas, The community health center model continues to prove an effective means of overcoming barriers to healthcare access, including geography, income, and insurance status – improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare system costs. In 2023, Michigan community health centers helped over 69% of patients control their hypertension and over 72% of their patients control their diabetes; and

Whereas, Community health centers are on the front lines of emerging health care crises, providing access to care for our nation’s veterans, addressing the opioid epidemic, and responding to public health threats in the wake of natural disasters. Community health centers in Michigan utilize eleven mobile units to provide accessible health services in rural and urban communities across the state; and

Whereas, National Health Center Week offers the opportunity to celebrate America’s nearly 1,500 community health center organizations with over 16,000 service delivery sites, including more than 3,000 school-based sites; and

Whereas, During National Health Center Week, we celebrate the legacy of America’s community health centers and their vital role in shaping the past, present, and future of America’s health care system; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare August 3-9, 2025, as National Health Center Week in the state of Michigan. We honor their dedicated staff, board members, patients, and all those responsible for their continued success and growth since the first health centers opened their doors nearly 60 years ago.