Survey of Community Health Centers Reveals Alarming Wait Times for Vulnerable Patients to Access Primary Care, Calls for Urgent $180 Million Funding

Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers data shows new patients must wait nearly three months to be seen by a primary care provider; points to need for urgent investment

(BOSTON, MA) [Tuesday June 20, 2023] – Patients seeking primary care at Community Health Centers, which are a critical resource to lower income and underserved populations, are facing waits of 44 to 80 days to be seen by a primary care provider, according to an internal survey conducted by the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers (Mass League). The League attributed the trend to a shortage of primary care clinicians and competition with higher-paying providers for experienced staff.   

According to the survey, which collected data from 31 health centers located across Massachusetts:

• 74% of MA CHCs have a waitlist for primary care services.
• 84% of MA CHCs have a waitlist for behavioral health services.  
• 82% of MA CHCs that have a dental program have a waitlist for new dental patients.
• Existing health center patients now must wait an average of 44 days for a routine exam. 
• New patients seeking care at a health center must wait an average of 80 days to be seen by a primary care provider.  

This trend is particularly troubling given that Massachusetts’ community health centers disproportionately provide care to populations of color and other underserved communities; the most recent The Health of Boston report identified a significant decrease in life expectancy for those communities and a report released this month by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation found that the economic burden due to health inequities experienced by Black, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian populations in Massachusetts totals $5.9 billion each year.

To address this shortage and a projected increase in patient care needs, Massachusetts health centers require a minimum of $513 million in capital investment over the next 5 years.  On behalf of the 37 federally qualified health centers operating in Massachusetts, the League has recommended that that the Legislature allocate additional funds to support physician recruitment, physical infrastructure improvements, and workforce development.  Michael Curry, President and CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, will be joined by the leadership of Brockton Neighborhood Health Center, The Dimock Center and Greater Lawrence Family Health Center at a State House briefing on Tuesday, June 20 to share further details about the primary care crisis and request both legislative and budgetary support.   

“The Massachusetts Legislature and the Governor’s office have long recognized how vital health centers are in meeting the needs of underserved Massachusetts residents and driving the local economy. State financial support over the last three years was critical to our ability to meet COVID-related health needs, and our workforce challenges would undoubtedly be far worse without this historic commitment” said Michael Curry, Esq President and CEO of the League. “However, there remain huge challenges in accessing basic primary care and addressing fundamental disparities in health.  If we want to create a more equitable health care environment, we must continue this targeted and impactful level of investment in the health center network.”

The Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and its members are advocating for legislation that codifies a new MassHealth payment methodology (which would align state and federal law) and assures that commercial payers reimburse care at a level that recognizes the unique health center model of care.  In addition, they have requested an immediate investment to respond to access challenges in the communities they serve: $50 million in funding to support primary care access, $100 million in capital funding, $20 million in workforce funding, and additional funds for primary care loan repayment.

“In addition to the general strain on health care resources, the greater Brockton Community has experienced sudden closures of both primary care practices and hospital beds.  Members of our community face barriers to care that are simply unacceptable and cannot continue,” said Sue Joss, CEO of Brockton Neighborhood Health Center. ”Investments in the state’s community health centers put dollars where they stand to make a meaningful difference in not just quality of life and health, but life expectancy and economic opportunity.  We urge our elected officials to move quickly to meet this continued need.”

Massachusetts Health Centers care for more than 1 million patients of all ages and racial and ethnic backgrounds and represent a major source of care for medically underserved women and children. Nearly half of health center patients are better served in a language other than English.

“The pandemic brought to light gross inequities in care faced by our populations of color, immigrants, and gateway city communities.  Though COVID has faded from the headlines, the underlying disparities in health and access that it brought to light remain,” said Guy Fish, MD, MBA, CEO of Greater Lawrence Family Health Center. “Our comprehensive approach considers both short term funding needs to recruit and retain clinicians in a community setting and expand the overall number of individuals from these communities who pursue careers in primary care.  We thank the legislature for working in partnership with us to advance strategies that will foster meaningful, long-term improvements in health outcomes.”

”At a time when Massachusetts hospitals are challenged by patients crowding already strained emergency departments, it is clear that we need to address this problem at its source by investing in community-based primary care,” said Charles L. Anderson MD, President and CEO of The Dimock Center. “The cost of inaction has an undeniable impact on life expectancy, the health of our communities and the stability of our economy.  Health centers are the solution.”

For more information, please join the League on Tuesday June 20, 2023, at 2 p.m. for a legislative briefing at the Statehouse, Room 428, hosted by the office of State Senator Cindy Friedman.