FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Michael King at

BETHESDA, MD - Feb. 6, 2026 - The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) Policy and Issues Forum (P&I)-the nation's premier gathering of Community Health Center (CHCs) leaders-will take place February 9-12 at the Gaylord National Harbor to celebrate 60 years of CHCs while charting a bold course for the future of primary care in America.

P&I will bring together CHC executives, clinicians, and board members, leaders of state and regional Primary Care Associations (PCAs) and Health Center-Controlled Networks (HCCNs), and members of the administration and policymakers to engage in policy discussions, education sessions, and advocacy workshops that celebrate the CHC movement and champion primary care.

"CHCs make up the largest primary care network in the United States," said Kyu Rhee, MD, MPP, President and CEO of NACHC. "We provide 52 million people nationwide-or 1 in 7 Americans, 1 in 3 in rural America-with affordable, comprehensive, and effective primary and preventive health care that transforms lives and strengthens communities."

"CHCs make up the largest primary care network in the United States. We provide 52 million people nationwide-or 1 in 7 Americans, 1 in 3 in rural America-with affordable, comprehensive, and effective primary and preventive health care that transforms lives and strengthens communities."

Kyu Rhee, MD, MPP, President and CEO of NACHC

A core component of this year's P&I is Hill Day, where hundreds of advocates meet with their Members of Congress to thank lawmakers for their sustained bipartisan and bicameral support for CHCs, including the $4.6 billion in funding for CHCs included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act. Advocates also underscore the need to protect and grow long-term investments in primary care.

A schedule of events and speakers can be found at this link.

CHCs comprise a workforce of at least 326,000 across 17,000 locations nationwide. They save the U.S. health system lives and money and cost a mere 1-2%-or an estimated $58 billion-of all U.S. health care spending, while delivering primary care to 14% of the population including patients, families, and communities in rural, urban, suburban, mountain, frontier, and island communities across our country and territories.

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About NACHC

NACHC's mission is to champion Community Health Centers delivering affordable, effective, comprehensive primary care that is community-driven and improves health for all.