Harnessing Social Needs Data to Advance Health Equity in Federally Qualified Health Centers

As of 2023, over 25 million people in the US do not have health insurance. This lack of coverage affects insured patients as well, especially those on Medicaid or Medicare, who still struggle to access healthcare due to high costs or reimbursement-related obstacles. To address these issues, the US government backs federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), nonprofit clinics that provide primary healthcare services to medically underserved populations. These centers play a vital role in historically marginalized communities by offering primary care regardless of an individual's ability to pay.