Harnessing social needs data to advance health equity in Federally Qualified Health Centers

As of 2023, more than 25 million people in the US lack health insurance. Unfortunately, even insured patients, particularly Medicaid beneficiaries and older Medicare recipients, still face restricted health care access due to excessive costs or reimbursement-related barriers. To tackle these challenges, the US government supports federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), nonprofit clinics designated to offer primary health care services to medically underserved populations. By offering primary care irrespective of ability to pay, these centers are crucial and trusted pillars in historically disenfranchised communities.