State Announces $50 Million Investment in Community Health Centers

BOSTON — The Baker-Polito administration announced new investments totaling $50 million over five years to 35 community health centers (CHCs) which serve thousands of individuals annually throughout the Commonwealth.

During an event at the Lynn Community Health Center, Gov. Charlie Baker and Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders highlighted how the funding will further provide treatment for young people and adults with behavioral-health needs, and acknowledged the important role of CHCs in expanding access for opioid-addiction treatment.

Of the 35 community health centers receiving funding, six are in Western Mass., including Caring Health Center, CHP Health Center, Community Health Center of Franklin County, Hilltown Community Health Centers, Holyoke Health Center, and Springfield Health Services for the Homeless.

“Massachusetts is a national leader in healthcare coverage, and today’s announcement will help ensure access to the vital medical and behavioral-health treatment in health centers,” Baker said. “Investing $50 million over five years to 35 community health centers builds on already-historic funding increases for the Commonwealth’s behavioral healthcare services and delivers added support to treat individuals in the communities where they live and work.” 

Over the next five years, the investment to CHCs will increase provider rates for psychiatry services and medical visits provided to children and adults, beginning Jan. 1, 2019. In addition, MassHealth is improving access to school-based health centers.

“The funding will provide added financial reimbursement for treatment provided by community health centers and the important work they are doing to address the opioid epidemic,” Sudders said. “We are making a deliberate effort to invest in behavioral healthcare throughout the Commonwealth. In fact, this administration has committed making more than $1.9 billion in behavioral healthcare investments over the next five years.”