What HHS's $102 Million Investment Means for the Future of Health Center Access

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced $102 million in New Access Points Awards to expand the Health Centers Program. As the first expansion of the program since 2019, this award will expand primary care access to nearly 1 million people across 158 existing health centers and 415 new sites. 

The health center funding is intended to reach underserved communities where residents face barriers to quality care, providing routine primary care, preventive services, nutritional counseling, mental health services, and more to those who have been unable to consistently access traditional health care. Its goal is to make routine care more accessible by reducing travel time and offering more coordinated care within the community. 

For federally qualified health centers (FDHCs), this award creates an opportunity for growth. Organizations can develop new services, strengthen care teams, or expand their capacity. However, health centers must still approach any expansion strategically. Organizations that prepare for growth by understanding community needs and building a sustainable care model will be best positioned to turn this investment into lasting access and better patient outcomes. 

The Hidden Complexity of Health Center Expansion

Health center expansion involves more than opening new sites or increasing physical space to accommodate more patients. As centers scale, leaders must also consider if their existing care models, workflows, and resources can support a larger population without compromising access or quality of care. Building a sustainable, comprehensive care model means evaluating factors like:

Clinical Services

Do your services align with the needs of the community you’re entering, or do they need to expand beyond your existing model?

Staffing

Expansion means hiring more clinical providers and support staff in an already strained workforce. Leaders may need to plan for recruitment or training to ensure adequate staffing for expected patient volumes.

Technology

New and existing sites need systems that communicate and coordinate care from day one. EHRs, patient portals, referral tracking, and other systems need to scale without adding administrative burden. 

Operations

Standardizing scheduling, billing, supply chain processes, and other operations before expansion helps create more consistency across sites. It’s also important to assess how operational needs may differ between locations and plan accordingly. 

Patient Experience

Consider whether patients can still easily schedule care, reach clinical staff, and get clear answers while accounting for language or cultural differences as your patient population grows.

Medication Access

Community health center expansion improves access to care, but patient outcomes depend on whether patients can fill their prescriptions. Convenient, affordable pharmacy access can reduce barriers to treatment and support adherence.

Medication Access is Part of the Bigger Picture 

A patient’s healthcare journey doesn’t end when they leave the exam room. What happens next — whether a prescription is filled and taken as directed — often determines whether the visit ultimately leads to better health outcomes. 

The connection between medication access, adherence, and patient outcomes is clear. A 2024 study of more than 379,000 patients with hypertension found that adherence to antihypertensive medications was associated with 200 fewer emergency department visits and 90 fewer inpatient admissions per 1,000 people. Adherence also promotes better disease management and reduces complications, improving overall patient outcomes while helping ensure the sustainability and efficiency of healthcare systems.

When cost, transportation, or other barriers interfere with pharmacy access, the connection between diagnosis and treatment weakens. For health centers, pharmacy access is critical for preventing treatment delays and supporting adherence. The visit only pays off if patients actually receive and take medications as prescribed after they leave. 

With FQHC expansion, leaders must consider whether current pharmacy services meet existing demand and support future growth. When pharmacy access is coordinated with expansion, health centers can take steps to address access issues and support continuity of care.

The Value of Having the Right Partner During Expansion

Community health center expansion requires leadership teams to navigate complex clinical, operational, and financial decisions that require strategic planning and a clear understanding of your organization’s goals. Without guidance, growth decisions that solve today’s needs may eventually create constraints over time. 

A partner with industry knowledge and a practical understanding of healthcare operations can help health centers avoid costly missteps during expansion. They help teams evaluate expansion opportunities and develop an approach aligned with their current priorities and long-term direction.

A-S Medication Solutions works alongside health centers to help them address their pharmacy needs as they grow and change. Rooted in a commitment to partnership and addressing healthcare access, our experienced team knows that every health center environment differs. The access challenges, resources, and daily operations of a rural health center look nothing like an urban health center, which is why we don’t start with a one-size-fits-all solution.

Instead, ASM meets each healthcare organization where it is, weighing its patient population, operational realities, and long-term goals to help identify and support a pharmacy strategy built around current and future clinical priorities and patient needs. 

Helping Health Centers Build for the Long Term

This latest HHS investment gives health centers the opportunity to strengthen healthcare access and support continuity of care. But successful expansion relies on more than growth alone. Health centers need to create sustainable access to care that scales alongside the communities they serve. 

For some health centers, pharmacy access will be a key part of their expansion strategy. Thoughtfully designed pharmacy services can improve medication access while supporting continuity of care and adherence for better patient outcomes. The most effective approach will look different for every health center, based on their community, patient needs, and goals. 

ASM partners with health centers as they plan for what’s next. From evaluating opportunities to developing and implementing pharmacy solutions at the point of care, we help healthcare organizations build accessible and sustainable models. Explore how A-S Medication Solutions partners with health centers to build pharmacy strategies that support their growth and communities.