A Profile of Community Health Center Patients: Implications for Policy

Weighted N

16.5 Million

91.2 Million

Demographic Characteristics

Age

       Children (Age 0-17)

17.0%

33.4%

       Non-Elderly Adults (Age 18-64)

78.4%

56.2%

       Elderly Adults (Age 65+)

4.6%

10.4%

Race/Ethnicity

       White

37.9%

47.1%

       Hispanic

31.7%

28.0%

       African American

21.7%

18.5%

       Other

8.7%

6.4%

Primary Language

       English

77.2%

76.7%

       Spanish

22.0%

13.4%

       Bilingual

N/A

5.5%

       Other

0.8%

4.3%

Employment Status (Ages 18-64)

       Working

39.6%

51.6%

       Unemployed

23.5%

13.8%

       Not in the Labor Force

36.8%

34.6%

Health Insurance Coverage

       Uninsured

36.4%

27.7%

       Medicaid

32.6%

31.6%

       Medicare

6.5%

13.3%

       Medicare-Medicaid Dual Eligible

4.6%

3.3%

       Private Insurance

8.0%

25.7%

Health Status

All Ages

Self-Reported Health Status

       Excellent, Very Good, or Good

67.7%

84.1%

       Fair or Poor

32.3%

15.9%

Share in Fair/Poor Health by Insurance Coverage

       Uninsured

34.4%

12.6%

       Medicaid

32.1%

13.5%

       Medicare

57.2%

42.4%

       Private Insurance

17.4%

8.4%

Adults (Ages 18+)

Health Conditions that Individuals have Ever Had

       Diabetes or Borderline Diabetic

19.2%

12.0%

       Depression*

50.8%

49.2%

       Anxiety*

35.4%

33.6%

       Asthma

20.6%

14.3%

       Hypertension

39.9%

30.5%

       Two or More Conditions in Lifetime^{^}

25.4%

16.6%

Risk Factors

       Current Smoker

64.9%

27.1%

       Obesity

48.1%

31.1%

Use of Care

Children

Receipt of Routine/Well Care

       Child had Well Exam in the Past Year

83.0%

76.8%

       Child had Dentist Visit in the Past Year

78.7%

69.4%

Adults (Ages 18+)

Receipt of Routine/Well Care

       Adult had Dentist Visit in the Past Year

44.8%

41.4%

Receipt of Cancer Screening

       Ever Had a Mammogram (Women ages 30+)

62.3%

67.7%

       Ever Had a Pap Test (Women ages 18+)

95.5%

89.4%

       Ever Had an Exam for Colon Cancer (Ages 40+)

44.4%

38.8%

Receipt of Follow-Up Care (Among Those Who Needed It)

Received Recommended Follow-Up Tests/Treatment for Mammogram (Women ages 30+)

88.4%

73.4%

Received Recommended Follow-Up Tests/Treatment for Pap Test (Women ages 18+)

79.9%

93.6%

Receipt of Chronic Care Among Adults

       Has Diabetes and Saw Eye Doctor in Past 12 Months

47.2%

47.6%

       Has Diabetes and Saw Foot Doctor in Past 12 Months

26.0%

21.8%

       Doctor Recommended Exercise for Hypertension

81.8%

40.4%

NOTES: Data represent all ages unless otherwise noted. Data for health center patients are for the year 2009, and data for the U.S. low-income population are for the year 2010.

* The Health Center Patient Survey asked respondents to self-report whether they had ever had anxiety or depression in their lifetime. The NHIS depression and anxiety questions were asked of sample adults who completed the Quality of Life supplement (administered to approximately one-quarter of sample adults). The questions asked respondents who reported feeling worried, nervous, or anxious at least monthly, or who took medication for those feelings, whether they agreed with the statement: “I have been told by a medical professional that I have anxiety/depression.”
^ Conditions include diabetes, asthma, hypertension, liver condition, coronary heart disease, and emphysema.

SOURCE: KCMU/George Washington University analysis of 2009 Health Center Patient Survey and 2010 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).