New York Community Health Centers' Population Health Activities: Findings from a Statewide Assessment

The U.S. spends just 5% of its health care budget to prevent morbidity and mortality. This study surveyed N.Y. State community health centers' (CHCs) population health activities aligned with the N.Y. Prevention Agenda (response rate of 72%). More than half of CHCs considered population health a high priority. Chronic disease and reducing preventable infections were the leading activity areas. One third of activities were dedicated to patient treatment follow-up. Community health centers reported that more than two-thirds of all activities received no funding. Despite a commitment to population health among CHCs, widespread improvements in population health may remain limited without an increase in dedicated funding to support community-based prevention strategies.