Cost of Services at Neighborhood Health Centers

Abstract

A two-year study of six OEO Neighborhood Health Centers of different sizes used a uniform cost-finding methodology that accurately reflected expenses and showed that about 55 per cent of the costs were directed toward primary clinical medical care. The average visit cost for such care ranged from $22.00 to $37.00, the cost of a physician-patient encounter from $16.09 to $28.38, and the provision of primary comprehensive care from $144.00 to $270.00 per person per year. These costs are competitive with other institutional providers, including outpatient departments and clinics of hospitals, and large prepaid group practices.