The Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers is the state primary care association representing Federally Qualified Health Centers and other like-mission providers located in underserved areas throughout the Commonwealth. Established in 1981 as a private non-profit organization, PACHC was formed by and for community health center programs. PACHC programs and services are designed to strengthen, promote and grow health centers in today's complex and constantly changing health care environment.

What are Community Health Centers? Community, Migrant, Public Housing and Homeless Health Centers are non-profit, community-directed providers that provide access to comprehensive primary medical care, dental and behavioral health services to hundreds of thousands who would otherwise not have health care access.. regardless of the patient's ability to pay.

• There are more than 200 community health centers service sites operating in 43 counties in the Commonwealth both urban & rural;

• Care is given to more than 600,000 residents with more than 2 million patient visits annually;

• The economic benefits generated for local communities in 2008 was more than $500 million; and Health centers provide more than 2900 full-time equivalent jobs.