OPCA Celebrates National Health Center Week 2025

Portland, Oregon—The Oregon Primary Care Association (OPCA) is proud to celebrate National Health Center Week 2025, taking place August 3-9. The annual event highlights the essential role Community Health Centers (CHCs) play in improving public health and providing Americans with access to critical healthcare services. CHCs represent the nation’s largest primary care network, serving nearly 34 million patients nationwide.

This year’s NHCW celebration, launched by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), focuses on the theme: “America’s Health Centers Celebrating 60 Years of Improving our Nation’s Health.” CHCs across the country join the celebration through a host of scheduled events that include resource fairs, back-to-school drives, health screenings, and visits to CHCs by local, state, and national leaders.

With a mission to make high-quality, affordable care available to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay or insurance status, CHCs save lives and healthcare costs on the front lines of our nation’s most pressing public health challenges. They are powered by a workforce of over 326,000 dedicated professionals who reach beyond the walls of the exam room with effective services that not only prevent illness but also address the factors that may cause it.

CHCs are racing against a September deadline as our federal funding expires, creating unprecedented financial strain. The recently enacted “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is also projected to cost CHCs $7 billion annually in higher uncompensated care costs and jeopardize coverage for 4 million patients. While CHCs never turn patients away, anticipated Medicaid coverage reductions will force impossible budget choices. NACHC projects these combined pressures could lead to workforce cuts and site closures, resulting in up to 6,000 preventable CHC patient deaths annually.

In Oregon, CHCs treat 471,795 patients annually, which amounts to roughly 1 in 10 Oregonians. Their services are essential for our communities and often rated highly by national entities like the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). One area where Oregon CHCs shine is in adopting strong information technology infrastructure. Nineteen Oregon CHCs received HRSA’s 2025 Advancing Health IT Badge in recognition of their work.

Nationally, more than 1,700 CHCs are the health care home to:

• One in 5 uninsured people
• One in 3 people living in poverty
• One in 5 rural residents
• 4 million children
• Over 419,000 veterans

CHCs serve 10% of the U.S. population but represent roughly 1% of total annual healthcare spending in the United States. By keeping people healthy, primary care doesn’t just save lives – it saves money.

To learn more about the mission and accomplishments of CHCs, visit www.nachc.org. Learn more about NHCW and view a list of events at www.healthcenterweek.org.  #NHCW25 #ValueCHCs

Oregon FQHC #NHCW2025 Events