Health centers and Breath-ing Association cite public-health savings and ask FRAC for investment to sustain services

Leaders of community health organizations told the Funding Review Advisory Committee that investments in primary care, respiratory health and energy-assistance programs produce measurable savings in emergency care and stabilize families, and they urged local funding to sustain those services.

Nikkoko Amez Otaiko, chief operating officer of Primary1 Health (Franklin County’s federally qualified health center), said Primary1 serves more than 35,000 patients and roughly 100,000 visits annually. She testified that community health visits can avert as much as $1,000 in emergency department costs per visit and that a reduction in primary-care capacity would increase strain on hospital systems. She added that Primary1 absorbed nearly $850,000 in prescription costs last year through an in-house program and that more than 30% of medical patients and 60% of dental patients lack coverage.

Iyad Hassan, president and CEO of the Breathing Association, described respiratory and energy insecurity programs. He said the Breathing Association treats roughly 1,500 asthma patients annually and serves about 15,000 customers with energy assistance programs; he added that a sizeable share of their patients lack insurance and that some patients would otherwise seek emergency care. Hassan suggested the committee consider measures to quantify social return on investment and to support nonprofit capacity-building and loan-loss reserves.

Both organizations asked FRAC to consider funding strategies that support workforce recruitment, sustain clinical capacity and preserve energy-assistance and disease-prevention programs that reduce downstream public costs.

The committee did not take action at the session but received the testimony for inclusion in its recommendations.