COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS

Health centers are vital in ensuring accessible, affordable healthcare for medically under-resourced communities. The Coalition of Orange County Community Health Centers, comprising Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and safety-net clinics, provides a comprehensive range of services including primary care, behavioral health, dental, and vision care. These centers are non-profit, locally controlled organizations dedicated to improving community health while contributing to the economy.

Economic Contributions

In 2015, California health centers generated over $8 billion in economic impact and supported over 59,000 jobs statewide. For Orange County, these centers are instrumental in:

  • Supporting 8,798 jobs, with 4,508 health center jobs and 4,290 jobs in the broader community.
  • Contributing $1.25 billion in economic impact, including $595 million in direct spending from health centers and $663 million in community spending.

Affordable Care for Medically Underserved Populations

Health centers serve a significant portion of the population that would otherwise face barriers to care. In 2025:

  • 339,690 patients were served by Coalition of OC member health centers.
  • 40% of patients were covered by Medi-Cal, and 59.4% were low-income (at or below 138% of the federal poverty level).
  • Costs for health center Medi-Cal patients were 22% lower than for patients of other providers, translating to $598 million in savings for Medi-Cal and $814 million in savings for the overall healthcare system.

Impact on Patients

Health centers are essential for under-resourced groups:

  • 1 in 13 Orange County residents are served by a community health center.
  • 1 in 3 Orange County residents are on Medi-Cal.
  • 458,994 Doctor visits completed at Coalition OC member clinics.
  • 846, 623 Primary Care annual visits at Coalition OC member clinics.

Download Community Health Centers Fact Sheets