2026 House Resolution 352

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

Whereas, As the country’s largest primary care network, community health centers are the health care home for fifty-two million Americans in over 17,000 communities across the country. One in every seven people in the United States receive care at a community health center; and

Whereas, In Michigan, 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, often providing another accessible and dependable source of primary care in their communities; and

Whereas, Community health centers are a critical element of the nation’s health system, finding unique ways to address the health care needs in Michigan’s diverse rural, suburban, and urban populations, often providing the only accessible and dependable source of primary care in their communities; 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 are responding to the chronic disease epidemic by expanding access to primary care, which keeps Americans healthy and out of expensive settings like hospital emergency rooms. 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 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 $1.8 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 be an effective means of overcoming barriers to health care access, including geography, income, and insurance status – improving health outcomes and reducing costs. Community Health Centers in Michigan utilize eleven mobile units to provide accessible health services in rural and urban communities across the state; 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 September 21-27, 2026, 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 more than 60 years ago