Report Finds Community Health Centers Contribute $782 million to Colorado Economy

Report Finds Community Health Centers Contribute $782 million to Colorado Economy

CHCs generate more than 6,700 jobs in Colorado communities according to new economic impact study

Denver, Colo.— Colorado’s 20 Community Health Centers contribute $782 million in economic activity to the state, according to a report released today by the Colorado Community Health Network (CCHN). Community Health Centers produced $456 million in operating expenditures in local economies and an additional $326 million in economic activity in 2014. The centers also generated 6,716 jobs in Colorado communities. The economic impact study was conducted by the nonprofit consultancy Capital Link.

In addition, Community Health Centers contributed approximately $99.6 million in tax revenue and brought $98 million in federal grants to Colorado in 2014.

Community Health Centers (CHCs) provide a health care home for 650,000 Coloradans in 61 of the state’s 64 counties. More than one in eight people in Colorado rely on a Community Health Center for primary care, behavioral care, and oral health.

In addition to direct economic impact, CHCs reduce the overall cost of health care. Studies show that Colorado Medicaid clients who use CHCs are one-third less likely to have an emergency room visit, an inpatient hospitalization, or a preventable hospital admission. And despite serving a high percentage of low-income patients with complex medical needs, CHCs demonstrate equal or better outcomes compared to other health providers.

“Our Community Health Centers work hard to meet the health care needs of their communities, often going above and beyond what normally can be done in a normal work week,” said Annette Kowal, president and CEO of CCHN. “It is good to know the significant extent to which CHCs contribute to Colorado’s economy as they go about their work, and we have always known that CHCs are great places for health care careers.”

The study looked at the direct, indirect and induced economic impact that the state’s Community Health Centers provide. For example, direct impact would include money spent on salaries or office furniture. Indirect impact would include vendors and support services that do business with CHCs. And induced impact would include money that employees spend on purchases in their communities.

The complete report is available on the CCHN website here: https://cchn.org/publications/.

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 The Colorado Community Health Network (CCHN) is the unified voice for Colorado’s 20 Community Health Centers (CHCs) and their patients. CHCs provide a health care home for more than 650,000 of their community members – more than one in eight people in Colorado – from 61 of the state’s 64 counties. Without CHCs, hundreds of thousands of Colorado’s low-income families and individuals would have no regular source of health care. CCHN’s mission is to increase access to high quality health care for people in need in Colorado. For more information about CCHN, please visit www.cchn.org.